Rate My Professor Niels Kjaergaard

Professor Niels Kjaergaard is a Professor of Physics at the University of Otago's Department of Physics, within the Division of Sciences. He earned his PhD in 2001 from Aarhus University, Denmark. Since joining the University of Otago in 2010, he has led the Kjærgaard research group, specializing in experimental atomic, laser, and optical physics. The group develops advanced apparatus, including a novel optical tweezers-based collider, to conduct high-precision atomic physics measurements with ultracold atoms cooled to nano-Kelvin temperatures and accelerated to velocities up to one meter per second. Their work analyzes the spatial distribution of scattered debris from atomic collisions, in collaboration with theorists, and is supported by Marsden Fund projects. Research encompasses quantum scattering dynamics, Feshbach resonances, Rydberg atom physics, and quantum sensing applications.

Kjærgaard's key achievements include observations of Pauli blocking in light scattering from quantum degenerate fermions and bound state self-interactions in nano-eV atom collisions. Notable publications are: Deb and Kjærgaard, 'Observation of Pauli blocking in light scattering from quantum degenerate fermions,' Science (2021); Thomas, Chilcott, Tiesinga, Deb, and Kjærgaard, 'Observation of bound state self-interaction in a nano-eV atom collider,' Nature Communications (2018); Horvath, Thomas, Tiesinga, Deb, and Kjærgaard, 'Above-threshold scattering about a Feshbach resonance for ultracold atoms in an optical collider,' Nature Communications (2017); Thomas, Roberts, Tiesinga, Wade, Blakie, Deb, and Kjærgaard, 'Multiple scattering dynamics of fermions at an isolated p-wave resonance,' Nature Communications (2016); Appel, Windpassinger, Oblak, Hoff, Kjærgaard, and Polzik, 'Mesoscopic atomic entanglement for precision measurements beyond the standard quantum limit,' PNAS (2009). He was awarded the 2023 Hector Medal by Royal Society Te Apārangi for distinguished contributions to understanding indistinguishable particles through ultracold atomic collisions and light scattering. His group received the University of Otago Research Group of the Year award in 2018, and the 2021 Science paper was selected as one of Physics World's top-10 breakthroughs. A Principal Investigator at the Dodd-Walls Centre since 2015, Kjærgaard advances quantum technologies via projects on Rydberg atomic polarimetry and quantum fluids. He co-edited a 2021 special issue of the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, teaches physics courses including quantum and atomic physics, and delivers public lectures such as his inaugural professorial lecture.