PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

David J. Wineland

Also known as David Jeffery Wineland

David Wineland is a physicist whose work with trapped atomic ions has applications in quantum computation. He earned a bachelor's degree at UC Berkeley in 1965 and a Harvard doctorate in 1970. In 1975 he joined the National Bureau of Standards, now NIST, where he led an experimental group until the end of 2017. He shared the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics with Serge Haroche for experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems. As of October 2026, he is a Knight Distinguished Research Chair and research professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Oregon.

Timeline

  1. 1965–1970

    Degrees from Berkeley and Harvard

    He earns a bachelor's degree at UC Berkeley in 1965 and a Harvard doctorate in 1970.

  2. 1975–2017

    An ion group at NIST

    In 1975 he joins the National Bureau of Standards, now NIST, and leads an experimental group on trapped atomic ions until the end of 2017.

  3. 1978–1995

    Laser cooling and quantum gates

    He achieves the first demonstration of laser cooling in 1978. In 1995 his NIST group demonstrates the first deterministic multi-qubit logic gates.

  4. 2007

    A National Medal of Science

    He is awarded the National Medal of Science in 2007.

  5. 2012

    A shared Nobel Prize

    He shares the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics with Serge Haroche for experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems. His research applies to quantum information, including quantum computation.

  6. As of October 2026

    A Knight Distinguished Research Chair

    He is a Knight Distinguished Research Chair and research professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Oregon.

Sources and credits

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  1. David Wineland | NSF Q-SEnSE: Quantum Systems through Entangled Science and Engineering | University of Colorado Boulder colorado.edu. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. David J. Wineland - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. Wineland Awarded 2007 National Medal of Science | NIST nist.gov. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. Nobelist in physics got his start at Berkeley - Berkeley News news.berkeley.edu. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. David Wineland Wins 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics | Physics | University of Colorado Boulder colorado.edu. Checked 14 October 2026.
  6. Wineland – Oregon Ions ions.uoregon.edu. Checked 14 October 2026.