This year’s Young Atom Opticians (YAO) conference was organized by young researchers from the Atomic Institute of the Vienna University of Technology and took place in Vienna from the 17-21 February 2009.
The first YAO conference was held in Innsbruck in the year 1995 and since then the conference has been held every year in a different research centre within Europe. The aim of this initiative is to create a community of young researchers working in quantum optics with a focus on cold atoms. The conference gives the possibility to young scientists to present and discuss their results in talks and poster sessions.
The YAO 2009 edition welcomed 85 participants form Europe, Canada, Australia and Russia. Among them, were 14 young scientist from the EuroQUAM EUROCORES Programme.
The programme featured 43 talks and 40 posters covering a broad range of different aspects of cold quantum matter: atom lasers, optical cavities, Bose-Einstein condensates, Fermi gases, molecules in optical lattices, atom chips and other. A lab tour was organized to exchange information on the state-of the-art equipment and experimental issues.
Social events included a city-tour and a conference dinner where the participants expanded their networks in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.
The next YAO conference will take place in Amsterdam in 2010.
For more pictures and information visit the YAO '09 Conference website.
