On September 19th 2024, the JILA Association of Graduate Students (JAGS) hosted its latest session of the JILA Graduate Student Seminar Series in the JILA Auditorium. This monthly seminar offers colloquium-style presentations by JILA graduate students, highlighting research across various fields in both experimental and theoretical physics.

Check out the latest episode of the "Humans of JILA" podcast, featuring an insightful conversation about JILA JEDI – JILA's initiative for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusivity. JEDI is a self-nominated, cross-disciplinary team of Fellows, staff, students, and postdocs committed to promoting diversity and advancing inclusivity through various educational programs and activities. 

JILA and NIST Fellow Jun Ye and his team's revolutionary work on nuclear clock technology was recently highlighted in a feature by Scientific American. The article delves into the creation of the world’s first nuclear clock, developed in Boulder, Colorado, which builds upon decades of research into precision timekeeping. Nuclear clocks, which rely on the ticking of atomic nuclei rather than atomic electrons, promise to surpass the precision and accuracy of current atomic clocks, which have set the standard for international timekeeping for decades.

In a recent CNN article, groundbreaking research led by JILA and NIST Fellow Jun Ye and his team was highlighted for its remarkable advancements in nuclear clock technology. The article emphasized how their work builds upon the pioneering efforts of scientists who embedded thorium-229 into crystals in 2023, allowing for enhanced signal tracking by suppressing noise from nuclear decay.

The JILA Cup rivalry continued this week as the Lehnert group faced off against the Regal group in an epic beach volleyball tournament at the Boulder High Beach volleyball courts. The competition, held on Monday September 9th, drew the attention of nearby spectators as the two teams battled it out for the glory of winning the JILA Cup. 

Jun Ye, a JILA and NIST Fellow and CU Boulder Professor of Physics, and his team have made headlines in Quanta Magazine for their groundbreaking work on nuclear timekeeping. Graduate student Chuankun Zhang led the team in observing a thorium-229 nuclear transition—an elusive process that could redefine how we measure time.

In the latest episode of the "Humans of JILA" podcast, we take an in-depth look at the CUbit Quantum Initiative, an organization at the University of Colorado Boulder. CUbit is at the forefront of quantum research, education, and workforce development, serving as a vital bridge between academia, industry, and government. 

JILA's recent advancements in the precision of strontium optical lattice clocks have garnered significant recognition, with Physics World Magazine highlighting their achievement. The research team from JILA and the University of Colorado, Boulder, has set a new record in measuring the frequency of an optical lattice clock with an unprecedented systematic uncertainty of 8.1 × 10⁻¹⁹. This level of precision is equivalent to a fraction of a second over the entire universe age, underscoring the importance of this development in the field of atomic clocks.

JILA celebrated its much-anticipated annual brat cookout on Thursday, August 8, 2024, an event beloved by the institute's community. Hosted by JILA's instrument shop, the cookout featured over 500 brats cooked to perfection, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the shop's staff. 

On July 31, the much-anticipated JILA Cup challenge unfolded on the physics lawn outside the JILA tower, showcasing the spirited rivalry between the Sun group and the Lehnert group. This competition, a high-energy spikeball tournament, saw four games played simultaneously until one team reached 15 points. In a nail-biting finish, the Lehnert group emerged victorious, edging out the Sun group with a final score of 15 to 12.

The latest "Humans of JILA" podcast episode features an insightful discussion with JILA graduate student and astrophysical researcher Tatsuya Akiba. Working under the mentorship of JILA Fellow and Assistant Professor Ann-Marie Madigan, Akiba delves into their recent research on white dwarf stars.

The Boulder Daily Camera recently featured an article on the pioneering work of JILA and NIST Fellow and University of Colorado Boulder physics professor Jun Ye. The piece delves into Ye's development of the world's most precise and accurate clock. 

On July 9, JILA hosted a delightful and imaginative celebration for Sugar Cookie Day. The event, which kicked off under the iconic JILA tower, brought together the JILA community for an afternoon of creativity and sweet treats.

The "Humans of JILA" podcast has just launched its latest episode, highlighting the crucial yet often overlooked functions of JILA's Supply Shop. This episode takes listeners behind the scenes to understand the intricate workings of the Supply Office, which plays a pivotal role in JILA's day-to-day operations.

In this episode, you'll hear from Brian Lynch, the head of the Supply Shop, and Jennifer Erikson, JILA's Property Manager. They look inside their responsibilities, from ordering expensive laboratory equipment to ensuring accurate inventory tracking. Their insights reveal the complexity and importance of their work in maintaining the smooth operation of JILA’s research and administrative activities.

JILA marked the summer solstice with a unique celebration in the X-wing basement, a space ingeniously designed to allow sunlight to illuminate its floor at midday on this special day. This architectural feature transformed the basement into a sunlit patio for a few brief minutes, allowing JILA Fellows like Eric Cornell to do a quick experiment on the architecture. 

JILA Fellow and NIST physicist Adam Kaufman, alongside his dedicated team, has garnered significant attention in a Physics World article for their innovative work in the field of quantum physics. The team’s research has resulted in developing a boson sampler that utilizes atoms instead of photons, marking a significant advancement in the simulation of complex quantum states. The results of their work were recently published in Nature. 

Computing is key for physics research, from running simulations to calculating difficult equations. To support JILA's computing needs, the Computing Shop and its six members offer various resources, including onboarding new JILAns and updating older wifi systems. In this new "Humans of JILA" podcast episode, you'll hear from two of the Computing Shop members and discuss the rich history of computing at JILA.

In an article published by Universe Today, JILA Fellow and University of Colorado Boulder Astrophysical and Planetary Scientist Ann-Marie Madigan's recent research was discussed, revealing why these white dwarf stars often appear "polluted" with heavy metals, a long-standing astronomical puzzle.

This year's PISEC (Partnerships for Informal Science Education in the Community) High School Poster Symposium, hosted by JILA, contributed to bridging the gap between high school education and advanced university research. Supported by JILA's Physics Frontier Center (PFC), a center funded by the NSF, the PISEC program brought together high school students from various districts across Colorado, fostering an environment of learning and exploration within the JILA facilities.

The symposium, held annually, is a cornerstone event that allows young aspiring scientists to step into the world of professional research. Students embarked on an educational journey, beginning with engaging activities in the JILA auditorium and extensive lab tours. These experiences gave them a firsthand look at the cutting-edge research and daily operations within a leading research institution.

Introducing the next "Humans of JILA" epsiode for the highly anticipated second part of our PISEC series. PISEC (Partnerships for Informal Science Education in the Community) is an educational outreach and research program within JILA funded by the NSF-Center the JILA Physics Frontier Center (PFC).

Dive deeper into the world of informal physics education with returning insights from the six passionate PISEC members and volunteers you met previously. This episode also introduces two fresh voices in the field, enhancing our exploration of the vital role that physics education plays within the JILA, CU Boulder, and the broader Colorado community. Discover the impactful ways PISEC connects people to science and fosters a lasting enthusiasm for learning. Don't miss these powerful stories of dedication and discovery that highlight the transformative influence of PISEC on both learners and educators alike.