Special Colloquium together with MBI: Prof. Dr. Maciej Lewenstein (ICFO, Barcelona)
talk: Why photons? A psychoanalytic portrait of a scientist as a mature man
- https://www.physik.hu-berlin.de/en/kolloquium-en/colloquia/special-colloquium-together-with-mbi-prof-dr-maciej-lewenstein-icfo-barcelona
- Special Colloquium together with MBI: Prof. Dr. Maciej Lewenstein (ICFO, Barcelona)
- 2026-01-21T13:30:00+01:00
- 2026-01-21T15:00:00+01:00
- talk: Why photons? A psychoanalytic portrait of a scientist as a mature man
- When Jan 21, 2026 from 01:30 to 03:00
- Where Zoom & Lise-Meitner-Haus, Christian-Gerthsen-Hörsaal, Newtonstraße 15, 12489 Berlin
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iCal
Special Colloquium together with MBI: Prof. Dr. Maciej Lewenstein (ICFO, Barcelona) will talk about:
Why photons? A psychoanalytic portrait of a scientist as a mature man
Abstract
I will start with the origins: Maxwell theory, present five reasons to quantize, or maybe four? I will then discuss quantum theory of optical coherence, answering the question: How to reconcile Maxwell with photons? I will describe shortly coherent states and squeezed states. I will then turn to strong field physics, starting with a historical introduction and description of the present times, where semi-classical theory is sufficient. I will then mention the generation of Schrödinger cat states within atto-physics, answering the question: yes, we do need photons. At the end, I will discuss three mechanisms to exhibit quantumness of EM fields: i) Conditioning/post selection + applications; ii) Nonlinear effects induced by depletion/interband transitions, or dipole correlations; iii) Use quantum fields.
The Colloquium will be held in "hybrid" form. You can either join in person or via zoom.
Zoom Link:
https://hu-berlin.zoom.us/j/64567336962?pwd=QjhyMW5SbFVBZWVNRWJrTFBFN2Rtdz09
Meeting-ID: 645 6733 6962
Passwort: 607723