YAO 2025
The Young Atom Opticians Conference (YAO) is an annual conference organized by and for students, primarily targeting PhD and master’s students in atomic, molecular, optical, and quantum physics. The goal is to allow young researchers to share their research and meet fellow students and experts in the field. This year's conference holds special significance as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of YAO, returning to its birthplace in Innsbruck, where it was first held in 1995.
YAO 2025 is jointly organized by PhD students from the Institute of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the University of Innsbruck; it will take place in Innsbruck from the 6th to the 11th of July 2025.
We’re excited to welcome you to YAO 2025 in beautiful Innsbruck. The conference is just around the corner, and we look forward to a week full of scientific exchange, engaging discussions, and memorable experiences.
Welcome Event:
The welcome ceremony will take place at Bergisel, at the top of Innsbruck’s famous ski jump. Join us there on Sunday at 19:00 for registration, snacks, and drinks. Please check in to your hotel beforehand so you don’t bring your luggage to the venue. Access to the site is limited in time, so we ask that you arrive punctually. If you arrive late, please notify us via Telegram. If you cannot attend on Sunday, you will be able to register on Monday morning.
Conference Dinner:
The conference dinner will be held at Umbrüggler Alm, a cozy mountain hut with a great view over the city. To reach the venue, we will take an easy 45-minute hike. If you are unable to join the hike, please contact us in advance so we can arrange a shuttle for you.
Speaker Information:
Each speaker will have 12 minutes for their presentation, followed by 3 minutes for questions. You may use your own laptop, or bring your presentation on a USB stick to use with our provided laptop. We recommend also bringing a backup PDF version to avoid any compatibility issues.
Download the Conference Booklet:
Everything you need to know — including the schedule, social events, lab tours, and local tips — is included in the official booklet.
Monika Aidelsburger
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München & Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics
Luca Barbiero
Politecnico di Torino
Lauriane Chomaz
Heidelberg University
Jean Dalibard
Laboratoire Kastler Brossel – Collège de France
Adam Kaufman
JILA
Tracy Northup
University of Innsbruck
Thomas Pohl
Vienna University of Technology
Sebastian Will
Columbia University
Roberta Zambrini
Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex Systems
| FROM | Sunday
06.07.2025 | Monday
07.07.2025 | Tuesday
08.07.2025 | Wednesday
09.07.2025 | Thursday
10.07.2025 | Friday
11.07.2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:45 AM |
Introduction
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| 9:00 AM |
Monika Aidelsburger
|
Luca Barbiero
|
Jean Dalibard
|
Thomas Pohl
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Lauriane Chomaz
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| 9:30 AM | ||||||
| 10:00 AM |
Topological Quantum Matter
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Lattice Physics
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BECs & Fluids of Light |
Dipolar Gases
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Supersolids
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| 10:30 AM | ||||||
| 11:00 AM | Coffee Break | |||||
| 11:30 AM |
Quantum Gas Microscopy
|
Quantum Sensing
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Rydberg Atoms |
Impurity Physics
|
Collective Effects
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| 12:00 PM | Gender Equality | |||||
| 12:30 PM |
Lunch
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| 1:00 PM | ||||||
| 1:30 PM | ||||||
| 2:00 PM | Industry Talk: Thorlabs | Startup Panel | Roberta Zambrini | Industry Talk: Toptica |
Lab Tours
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| 2:30 PM | Sebastian Will | Adam Kaufmann | ||||
| 3:00 PM | Tracy Northup | Advances in AMO Theory | ||||
| 3:30 PM | Coffee Break | Free Time & Hike | Coffee Break | |||
| 4:00 PM |
Molecular Physics
|
Coffee Break |
Quantum Computing
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| 4:30 PM | Ions & Cavities | |||||
| 5:00 PM |
Poster Session I
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Conference Dinner |
Poster Session II
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| 5:30 PM | ||||||
| 6:00 PM | ||||||
| 6:30 PM | ||||||
| 7:00 PM |
Welcome event
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| 7:30 PM | ||||||
| 8:00 PM |
Social event
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The conference sessions will be held at the University of Innsbruck’s SoWi campus, a modern and accessible venue in the heart of Innsbruck.
Registration will take place during the welcome event on Sunday. Alternatively, you can check in during conference hours at the organizers’ stand.
The welcome event will be held at:
We have partnered with top-rated hotels to provide comfortable and convenient lodging options near the conference venue. Participants will share double rooms.
The conference dinner will be held at Umbrüggler Alm, a cozy mountain hut with a great view over the city. To reach the venue, we will take an easy 45-minute hike.
Participants will have the chance to visit the research facilities of both the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) and the Department of Experimental Physics.
We are committed to upholding the ideals of academic freedom and open exchange. At YAO 2025, we believe that scientific events must be accessible and welcoming to everyone, regardless of background, financial situation, race, gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, pregnancy, immigration status, or any other aspect of identity. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive, and safe environment where all participants are treated with dignity and respect. Discrimination and harassment have no place here.