Elizabeth Goldschmidt specializes in Experimental Quantum Optics and Quantum Information; her research interests primarily focus on the interface between matter and light. In the race to develop quantum technologies, one of the problems that needs to be solved is how to get light in and out of an atomic system.
Written by Jessica Raley for Illinois Physics
The Department of Physics at Illinois welcomes an extraordinary set of ten new faculty members this year. Eight of them have arrived on campus and have begun setting up their labs and settling into life in Champaign-Urbana. Two more faculty are set to arrive in January. We will feature each of them here over the next couple of weeks. Check back regularly to learn more about the exciting work these new faculty members are doing.
Professor Elizabeth Goldschmidt (left) works with graduate student Danielle Woods in her laboratory. Photo by Jessica Raley, Illinois Physics
Professor Elizabeth Goldschmidt
Elizabeth Goldschmidt specializes in Experimental Quantum Optics and Quantum Information; her research interests primarily focus on the interface between matter and light. In the race to develop quantum technologies, one of the problems that needs to be solved is how to get light in and out of an atomic system. Of her current research goals, Elizabeth says, “My focus is on atoms in solid-state materials because atoms make great qubits (the fundamental unit of quantum information) and solid-state materials can be fabricated into devices that enhance the interaction with light.” Throughout her career, Elizabeth has worked across many different communities within physics to characterize sources of single and entangled photons in many different regimes. She says, “I have tried to contribute to the bigger picture of understanding how to think about the strengths and weaknesses of widely disparate sources of quantum light, particularly when it comes to quantum information applications.”
For more information about Elizabeth's work, or to inquire about joining her group, please visit her website.
Madeline Stover is a physics doctoral student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign studying atmospheric dynamics applied to forest conservation. She interns as a science writer for Illinois Physics, where she also co-hosts the podcast Emergence along with fellow physics graduate student Mari Cieszynski. When Stover is not doing research or communications, she enjoys hosting her local radio show, singing with her band, and cooking with friends.
Daniel Inafuku graduated from Illinois Physics with a PhD and now works as a science writer. At Illinois, he conducted scientific research in mathematical biology and mathematical physics. In addition to his research interests, Daniel is a science video media creator.
Karmela Padavic-Callaghan, Ph. D. is a science writer and an educator. She teaches college and high school physics and mathematics courses, and her writing has been published in popular science outlets such as WIRED, Scientific American, Physics World, and New Scientist. She earned a Ph. D. in Physics from UIUC in 2019 and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Jamie Hendrickson is a writer and content creator in higher education communications. They earned their M.A. in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2021. In addition to their communications work, they are a published area studies scholar and Russian-to-English translator.
Garrett R. Williams is an Illinois Physics Ph.D. Candidate and science writer. He has been recognized as the winner of the 2020 APS History of Physics Essay Competition and as a finalist in the 2021 AAAS Science and Human Rights Essay Competition. He was also an invited author in the 2021 #BlackinPhysics Week series published by Physics Today and Physics World.
Karmela Padavic-Callaghan, Ph. D. is a science writer and an educator. She teaches college and high school physics and mathematics courses, and her writing has been published in popular science outlets such as WIRED, Scientific American, Physics World, and New Scientist. She earned a Ph. D. in Physics from UIUC in 2019 and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.