Science Café: Quantum Tunneling on a Macroscopic Scale

  • Thursday, December 18, 2025
  • 7:00pm - 8:00pm
  • Downtown Raleigh
headshot of Professor Weijian Chen

NC State University

Join us in person or watch the livestream on YouTube.

Every year, the Department of Physics at North Carolina State University joins us to talk about the winning science behind the Nobel Prize in Physics. This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics honors groundbreaking research that demonstrated that bizarre properties of the quantum world could be made large.

Join Dr. Weijian Chen and Dr. Xiang Li to explore the scientific journey that led to the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunneling and energy quantization in an electric circuit, an achievement honored by the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics. These discoveries provide opportunities for developing new generations of quantum technology, including quantum cryptography, quantum computers, and quantum sensors.

Dr. Weijian Chen is an Assistant Professor of Physics at NC State University. His research group uses superconducting circuits and qubits to explore quantum physics and quantum information science applications. Dr. Xiang Li is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar from Chen’s lab and an expert in cold atom experiments.

Grab a bite from the Daily Planet Café and join host Chris Smith for our monthly Science Café. Gather with other curious minds at this after-hours event for an informal presentation and conversation about current science topics with guest experts. The Daily Planet Café is open 5–8pm with a full menu during the Science Café.

Details

Date:
December 18
Times:
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Venue

Daily Planet Cafe

Nature Research Center
121 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601 United States
+ Google Map
Phone:
919.707.9800

Organizer

Chris Smith
919.707.9296