Professor Ping Koy Lam
(FL150100019)
Current Organisation
Administering Organisation
Primary research field
Strategic Research Priority area
Australian National University
Australian National University
Quantum Optics
Securing Australia’s place in a changing world
Image credit: Australian
National University
Fellowship project summary:
Precision laser levitation for quantum metrology and gravitational sensing
This fellowship project aims to levitate macroscopic objects using only laser beams, to provide a new tool
to test physics theories. Strong laser beams can exert sufficient force to counteract gravity and make an
object levitate. In contrast to other forms of levitation, laser levitation is scatter-free and can preserve
system coherence. It has superior optical and mechanical quality factors and complete information of the
system dynamics is retained. This allows laser levitation to be turned into a highly controllable and
ultra-sensitive device capable of detecting minute environmental changes. This research aims to probe the
relationship between quantum and gravitational physics and develop laser levitation into a precision
instrument for the sensing of gravity. Laser levitation has the potential to be developed into technology for
mineral exploration and environmental sensing.
About Professor Lam
Professor Lam’s research interests include quantum optics, optical metrology, nonlinear optics and
quantum information. His research covers opto-mechanics, quantum communications and quantum
information processing.
Professor Lam completed his degree with a double major in Mathematics and Physics from the University
of Auckland. He worked as an engineer for Sony and Hewlett Packard for three years after his graduation
before completing a Masters in theoretical physics and a PhD in experimental physics from the Australian
National University (ANU).
Professor Lam was awarded the Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) Bragg Medal and the ANU Crawford
Prize for his PhD. In addition, Professor Lam was awarded the 2003 British Council Eureka Prize for
inspiring science (Quantum Teleportation) and the 2006 UNSW Eureka Prize for innovative research
(Quantum Cryptography).
In 2014, Professor Lam was awarded the (AIP) Alan Walsh Medal for his involvement in the
commercialisation of quantum communication technology in Australia. Professor Lam has published over
200 scientific articles with more than 40 papers appearing in Physical Review Letters, Science and the
Nature journals.
Find out more about Professor Lam and his research by visiting his profile page on the Australian National
University website. For further information about this funding scheme please visit the Australian Laureate
Fellowships scheme page on the ARC website.