Theodor W. Hänsch Prize in Quantum Optics
Foundation
Theodor W. Hänsch Prize in Quantum Optics
Be recognized for excellence in quantum research.
Application Dates
21 January 2026 - 20 March 2026Program Prize
USD 20,000 prize and travel expenses to attend Quantum 2.0.
Foundation
The Theodor W. Hänsch Prize provides early-career professionals the opportunity to pursue innovative projects with the potential for meaningful impact on quantum technologies. Established in partnership with Hamamatsu Photonics, MenloSystems, and Thorlabs, the prize honors Theodor W. Hänsch; please visit his biography page to learn more about his extraordinary contributions to the field.
The recipient receives USD 20,000 plus travel expenses for Quantum 2.0 to support research aimed at solving complex theoretical or real-world problems. Recipients are granted total research freedom to focus on:
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Advancing basic research with meaningful global impact.
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Transitioning ideas into commercial innovations.
Application Information
How To Apply
Applications available at apply.optica.org
Important Dates
Opens 21 January 2026
Closes 20 March 2026
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be an Optica member.
- Must be an early-career professional (1-5 years post highest degree).
- Conducting research in quantum optics.
- Examples of some eligible disciplines within quantum optics: optical systems, metrology, cryptography and keys, computing, single-photon emitters, low-noise photodetectors, optical traps, cold atoms.
Program requirements recognize and exclude breaks from career timelines (e.g., eldercare; maternity or paternity leave; military service, long-term illness, or inability to work due to Covid-19 and lab closures).
Application Requirements
- CV/Resume (no more than four (4) pages)
- 150-word Research Proposal Summary
- Research Proposal Summary (no more than two (2) pages)
- Highlight current research and the potential impact of your project/research to advance the field of quantum optics, solve real-world challenges, and/or have a global impact.
- Overview of how the USD 20,000 prize would benefit your research and career.
- One (1) example of published work.
- Two (2) letters of recommendation.
If you have questions, please contact prizes@optica.org.
Recipients
2025
Adam Shaw
Stanford University, USA
For research addressing the challenge of interfacing an array of neutral atoms into a scalable quantum network by building a parallelized optical cavity using intra-cavity lenses.
2024
Raghavendra Srinivas
University of Oxford, UK
For his work to create and manipulate nonclassical states of trapped ions.
2023
Victoria Xu
MIT Kavli Institute - LIGO Laboratory, USA
For her contributions in using quantum optics to fundamentally improve metrology through large-scale interferometers and advance gravitational wave detection.Contributors
