Beatrix C. Hiesmayr
Research group:
What Rules the World?
Information appears to be a fundamental concept across many scientific disciplines. In classical systems, information can often be clearly defined and applied, as seen in classical computers or the human brain. However, our world is governed by quantum laws, where these seemingly successful classical concepts break down due to phenomena like superposition and quantum entanglement. These quantum properties open up novel possibilities, such as the security in quantum cryptography protocols based on fundamental laws and the revolutionary potential of quantum computation and information processing, exemplified by quantum computers. Bridging the quantum and informational frontiers starting from fundamental physics to applications is our mission.
Short bio:
In 2002, she completed her PhD in Theoretical Physics at the University of Vienna with distinction under the supervision of Reinhold Bertlmann and the later Nobel Laureate Anton Zeilinger. Her thesis earned the prestigious Bank Austria Award and the Viktor Hess Prize from the Austrian Physical Society. Her earlier Diploma thesis was also highly recognized, receiving the Theodor Körner Prize and the Alfred Wehrl Prize. Following several postdoctoral positions across various countries and disciplines in physics, she achieved Habilitation in Theoretical Physics at the University of Vienna. Since then, she has established the Quantum-Particle-Group (www.quantumparticlegroup.at), where she has supervised postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, master’s students, and bachelor’s students, totalling 33 students. In 2019, she was elected as a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, where she co-initiated a journal.
Her passion for physics extends beyond research and teaching to public engagement. She has developed hands-on educational tools, frequently speaks at schools and public events, and is a regular guest on TV and radio shows. Her work has also been featured in various media outlets.
Her research spans a wide range of disciplines and methodologies, with global collaborations that include experimental efforts to test her theoretical ideas. Her primary focus lies in quantum entanglement at both high and low energies, bridging the quantum and informational frontiers, and advancing from fundamental physics to practical applications.
“Interdisciplinary approaches are essential skills for the decades to come. At IT:U, I aim to share my passion for quantum physics with students, empowering them to apply its principles across diverse research fields”.
Beatrix C. Hiesmayr