PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Jonathan P. Dowling

Also known as Jonathan Dowling, Jon Dowling

Theoretical physicist Jonathan Dowling worked on quantum computing, quantum lithography, quantum optics and quantum sensing. He studied physics and mathematics at Texas and Colorado, then worked at Max Planck, the Army Aviation and Missile Command, and NASA JPL before joining LSU. He co-directed LSU’s Hearne Institute, published a 2003 review on the second quantum revolution, and wrote the 2013 book Schrödinger’s Killer App about building the first quantum computer. He developed international research ties through NICT and died in 2020.

Works
551
Citations
19,886
h-index
64

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1977–1988

    Physics and mathematics degrees

    He earns a physics BS with honors at Texas in 1977, master’s degrees at Colorado in 1981 and 1984, and a mathematical physics PhD there in 1988.

  2. 1999–2000

    Quantum computing at NASA JPL

    At NASA JPL, he becomes principal research scientist in its Quantum Computing Technologies Group in 1999. He coauthors a proposal to use entangled photon-number states for quantum lithography.

  3. 2002

    The Willis E. Lamb Medal

    He receives the Willis E. Lamb Medal and NASA Space Act Award for developing quantum lithography in 2002.

  4. 2003

    The second quantum revolution

    With Gerard J. Milburn, he publishes a 2003 review that frames quantum information technology and quantum optics as parts of a second quantum revolution.

  5. August 2004

    Hearne Institute co-director

    In August 2004, he joins LSU as Horace C. Hearne Professor and co-director of the Hearne Institute, after work at Max Planck, Army AMCOM and NASA JPL.

  6. 2013

    Schrödinger’s Killer App

    In 2013, he publishes a popular science book about the race to build the world’s first quantum computer.

  7. 2013–2020

    Visiting roles and NICT research

    From 2013, he visits NICT regularly and sends students there for internships; he also takes visiting professor roles at NYU Shanghai from 2017 and USTC from 2018. His research includes quantum optics, sensing and NOON-state lithography.

  8. 2020

    Death in 2020

    He dies in 2020.

Sources and credits

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  1. CURRICULUM VITAE phys.lsu.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Quantum Interferometric Optical Lithography: Exploiting Entanglement to Beat The Diffraction Limit arxiv.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. Quantum Technology: The Second Quantum Revolution arxiv.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Jonathan Dowling en.wikipedia.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. In Memory of Professor Jonathan Dowling - Inside Quantum Technology insidequantumtechnology.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. In memory of Prof. Jon P. Dowling | National Institute of Information and Communications Technology nict.go.jp. Checked 15 October 2026.