Piotr Wcisło has been awarded an NCN MAESTRO grant for the project “Challenging the quantum theory with ultra-accurate laser spectroscopy”. The project aim is to create an experimental setup that combines some of the most cutting-edge technologies in modern physics, such as ultra-precise lasers, light-trapping devices called optical cavities, and extremely cold environments, which will allow us to study molecules with greater precision than ever before. By carefully combining these tools, we aim to push the limits of precision in measuring the structure of the simplest molecules, with the goal of ultra-precisely testing quantum theory.

Hubert Jóźwiak has received an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025. He will be carrying out the 24-month project “Two-body loss and sticky collisions in ultracold molecule-atom systems (2STICKY)” at Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands, in the group of Dr. Tijs Karman, where I have been based since October 2025. The project aims to investigate the mechanisms responsible for the unexplained losses of ultracold molecules in optical traps, which constitute a major obstacle to the formation of stable quantum gases. The research will involve a theoretical description of the formation of long-lived complexes during so-called “sticky collisions,” combining rigorous quantum scattering calculations with statistical models extended to include spin interactions. Understanding and controlling ultracold particle collisions will contribute to the development of new platforms for quantum engineering and simulation.

Kamil Stankiewicz has been awarded an NCN PRELUDIUM grant for the project “Addressing the fundamental discrepancy observed in sub-Doppler molecular spectra of the hydrogen molecule – development of new optical metrology technologies for testing quantum theory in molecules”. The research aims to explain unexpected dispersive line shapes (Lamb-dip anomalies) seen in Doppler-free saturation spectroscopy of hydrogen, which currently limit further gains in measurement precision. By developing a next-generation optical metrology platform for high-accuracy rovibrational spectroscopy, the project will enable more stringent tests of molecular QED and strengthen constraints on possible physics beyond the Standard Model.

We are celebrating defended doctoral dissertation of our team member, Hubert Jóźwiak. The public defence took place on 9th May 2025 at 12:00. Title of doctoral dissertation: Collisions of simple molecules and atoms in fundamental studies, available to read in Theses.