Justin Caram, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Vice Chair , Chemistry & Biochemistry , University of California, Los Angeles 

 

2025 Experimental Physics Investigator

Justin Caram, Ph.D.
 

Research Description

Some of the best sensors in the world are derived from atomic vapor cells, floating atoms which are exquisitely sensitive to external fields. However, their sensitivity is reaching hard physical limits due to tradeoffs between number density, temperature and pressure these cells can reach. Justin Caram is trying to access atomic properties in dense solution phase, to circumvent these limits. He does this by using the ‘atom-like’ optical transitions in lanthanide complexes to protect coherent quantum states, which can be prepared, entangled and manipulated for the future of quantum sensing. This approach combines tools from solution phase spectroscopy, atomic physics, and chemical design in order to systematically develop and improve lanthanide complexes for sensing.

Research Impact

Disordered liquids make it hard to create or detect quantum states. Dr. Caram is aiming to design a chemical “cage” to protect embedded atomic transitions and open up the vast space of novel quantum sensors.

 
 

related links

Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative Science University of California, Los Angeles Department of Physics and Astronomy Back

Education

Ph.D., University of Chicago
B.A., Harvard University

Affiliated Investigators