INDIANAPOLIS -- IUPUI Professor of Physics Zhe-Yu "Jeff" Ou has been elected a fellow of the American Physical Society. This highly regarded honor recognizes Ou's pioneering theoretical and experimental research and contributions in quantum optics and other aspects of the burgeoning field of quantum information and communication. 
Quantum communication uses photons -- units of light -- to carry and process information rapidly and securely. Communication based on quantum phenomena may in the not too distant future replace conventional communication in use today. Once perfected, information transfer based on quantum physics promises to be far faster than today’s methods and impossible to eavesdrop upon.
Other potential applications of quantum communication include methodologies that will allow us to identify gravitational waves emanating from deep space, and to develop high sensitivity biomedical imaging techniques that will allow doctors to identify tumors too small to be seen by current technology.
"Quantum technologies are very much in the research stage but industry as well as the scientific community has recognized their potential," said Ou. "Ten years from now the quantum physics research we are currently conducting may be applied to things that we haven't even thought of yet."
The APS Division of Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics cited Ou for his "pioneering work and contributions in multi-photon interference, quantum entanglement of continuous variables, and generation of narrow-band two-photon sources of light, for the work on precision phase measurement in quantum metrology, and for the work on quantum amplification."
Ou, who was elected a fellow of Optical Society of America last year, first became interested in physics while a high school student, received his doctorate in physics from the University of Rochester and completed post-doctoral training at California Institute of Technology. He joined the IUPUI faculty in 1992.
Election as an APS fellow is a recognition of significant contributions to physics and a major professional honor. Ou is one of only three IUPUI faculty who have been so honored. B. D. Nageswara Rao was elected an APS fellow in 1997 and Ricardo Decca in 2015.
"Jeff has been making important contributions in this area for many years; it is great to see his work recognized with this well deserved honor," said Andrew Gavrin, chair of the Department of Physics.
The School of Science at IUPUI is committed to excellence in teaching, research and service in the biological, physical, computational, behavioral and mathematical sciences. The School is dedicated to being a leading resource for interdisciplinary research and science education in support of Indiana's effort to expand and diversify its economy.
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