2025
WORLD LAUREATES FORUM
>In the microscopic realm of quantum physics, directly observing and controlling a fragile, fleeting quantum state was once considered almost impossible. Until one scientist, through exquisitely designed experiments, opened a gateway to the unknown. That scientist is Serge HAROCHE, Nobel Laureate in Physics (2012) and Honorary Professor at the Collège de France.
“Capturing” Schrödinger’s Cat
One of the core mysteries of the quantum world lies in quantum superposition. The famous thought experiment of Schrödinger’s cat vividly illustrates the paradoxical state in which a microscopic particle exists as both alive and dead at the same time. Yet in reality, such states are extraordinarily fragile and easily disrupted by their environment, making direct observation exceptionally difficult. The groundbreaking contribution of Serge HAROCHE, together with David J. WINELAND, was the invention of revolutionary experimental methods that made it possible to measure and control individual quantum systems.
Professor HAROCHE is widely regarded as a founding experimental pioneer of cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED). His experimental designs are often described as works of art. He constructed an ultra–high-reflectivity microwave cavity, effectively a “photon prison”, capable of confining photons for more than 0.1 seconds. He then allowed a Rydberg atom, an unusually large and highly sensitive atom, to pass through the cavity like a probe. Through the interaction between the atom and the photons trapped inside, HAROCHE achieved quantum non-demolition measurements, enabling him to repeatedly count and manipulate photons without destroying them. This meant that the long-elusive “Schrödinger’s cat” could finally be “captured” and carefully observed in real physical experiments.
From the Nobel Stage to Lingang’s “Scientific Gravity Field”
At the 2025 World Laureates Forum, the scientist renowned for “capturing photons” returned to Lingang, a place defined by its futuristic vision, to share his profound reflections on science, light, and discovery with the global scientific community and the public.
Professor HAROCHE is not only a master designer of precision experiments, but also an outstanding communicator of scientific thought. At the Forum, he guided young scientists through a sweeping historical narrative, from Galileo and Einstein to modern quantum mechanics, emphasizing a central principle: There are no eternal truths in science, only conclusions that humanity continuously revises and deepens. He repeatedly stressed that the ultimate driving force behind all great discoveries is a scientist’s irrepressible curiosity and passion for exploring the world, a pure motivation capable of sustaining researchers through uncertainty and long scientific journeys.
His own career exemplifies the principle of “standing on the shoulders of giants.” Beginning at the legendary Kastler–Brossel Laboratory, a cradle of great physicists, HAROCHE grew to become a giant of his own generation. His experiences and insights continue to inspire young scientists to carry forward this invaluable tradition of intellectual inheritance through dialogue and collaboration.
As a co-organizer of the World Laureates Forum, the Shanghai Lingang Science and Technology Innovation Foundation firmly believes that Professor HAROCHE’s return is not only a celebration of top-level scientific knowledge, but also a vivid demonstration of Lingang’s emergence as a global “gravity field” for scientific innovation.
The Virtuous Cycle of Science
Professor HAROCHE’s research offers a textbook example of how fundamental science drives technological innovation. He emphasizes that basic science and technology exist in a symbiotic relationship: advances in precision instrumentation deepen our understanding of light, while new insights into light, in turn, give rise to even more sophisticated instruments, forming a virtuous cycle.
Scientific Breakthroughs by Serge HAROCHE
Future Applications
Control and measurement of single quantum states
Provides essential physical foundations for quantum computing and quantum simulation.
Quantum non-demolition measurement techniques
Dramatically enhance the sensitivity of quantum precision measurements, enabling detection of extremely weak electromagnetic fields.
Coupling of Rydberg atoms and photons
Opens pathways for developing novel quantum sensors and for information storage and transmission in quantum networks.
Deeper understanding of quantum decoherence
Supports the design of more stable and controllable qubits, addressing one of the central challenges of quantum computing.
Regarding the highly publicized field of quantum computers, Professor HAROCHE maintains a calm and constructive stance. He believes that achieving universal, fault-tolerant quantum computing remains a long-term goal with significant obstacles ahead. He cautions against excessive “quantum hype” in industry and warns that over-promising could have negative consequences. Instead, he stresses that quantum science is a globally open and collaborative field, not a closed or secretive race.
Caption: Professor Serge HAROCHE participating in the “Generations Inspire Generations” event at the 2025 World Laureates Forum
Reflections on Education
Professor HAROCHE has long maintained close ties with China’s scientific community. He has delivered frontier lectures at the Yan Jici Lecture Series at the University of Science and Technology of China, presenting cutting-edge research on quantum science with giant atoms. More notably, he has cultivated deep, sustained collaborations with Chinese scientists. For example, he successfully verified a quantum entanglement proposal put forward by the team of Academician GUO Guangcan of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and personally wrote to engage in academic exchange. Such cross-border scientific friendship and cooperation lie at the very heart of what the World Laureates Forum seeks to promote.
His message to the younger generation is sincere and forward-looking, “Science is an adventure. You must recognize that the work you are doing today may one day lead to unexpected and wonderful outcomes, and that you yourself are part of that adventure.”
Caption: Professor Serge HAROCHE engaging with students during activities at the 2025 World Laureates Forum
The Shanghai Lingang Science and Technology Innovation Foundation and the World Laureates Forum will continue to build world-class platforms for international scientific exchange, inviting towering figures like Professor Serge HAROCHE to share wisdom, inspire young scholars, and encourage deeper engagement with fundamental science, planting the seeds for future technological revolutions that will shape humanity’s tomorrow.
