Servaas JJMF Kokkelmans

Servaas JJMF Kokkelmans is a full Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), where he leads the Coherence and Quantum Technology group within the Department of Applied Physics and Science Education. He serves as scientific director of the Center for Quantum Materials and Technology Eindhoven (QT/e), which he founded in 2018, and is a co-founder of the Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute established in 2021. Kokkelmans also coordinates action line 1: Research and Innovation at Quantum Delta NL, demonstrating his national leadership in quantum technology.

Professor Kokkelmans earned his MSc in Physics from TU/e in 1996 and completed his PhD on interacting atoms in clocks and condensates in 2000. Following postdoctoral research at JILA, University of Colorado (USA) and Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, ENS (France), he returned to TU/e in 2004 as an Assistant Professor, became Associate Professor in 2017, and was promoted to full Professor in 2023.

His research focuses on strongly-interacting quantum gases and neutral atom quantum computing, with particular expertise in manipulating interatomic interactions. Kokkelmans' work impacts quantum materials development, quantum computing, and fundamental understanding of superfluidity. His expertise spans many-body properties of Fermi and Bose gases, ultracold collisions, Feshbach resonances, ultracold molecules, Efimov trimers, ultracold plasmas, and Rydberg atoms. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong progression from fundamental quantum gas studies to practical quantum computing implementations, with increasing emphasis on optical tweezer arrays, Rydberg atom systems, and hybrid quantum architectures.

Professor Kokkelmans has received numerous prestigious awards:

• NWO Vici Award: 'From neutron star to quantum computer' (2015)
• NWO Vidi Award: 'Atomic gases with strong interactions' (2003)
• Teacher Award of Appreciation Applied Physics (2021)
• Visiting Scientist Fellowship JILA (2016)
• Eindhoven University of Technology Fund for Excellence (2010)

As principal investigator of the KAT-1 project 'Rydberg Atom Quantum Computing' (2020-2028), Kokkelmans leads a major research initiative in neutral atom quantum computing. His research group has secured substantial funding from NWO and university sources, supporting numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. His educational contributions include teaching 'Hybrid quantum computing,' 'Quantum Optics and Quantum Information,' and 'Ultracold quantum physics' courses.

Professor Kokkelmans founded the Center for Quantum Materials and Technology Eindhoven (QT/e) as a hub for quantum research at TU/e. His Coherence and Quantum Technology group combines experimental and theoretical approaches to quantum systems, with particular strength in ultracold atomic physics. The group's work bridges fundamental quantum phenomena with practical quantum technology applications, positioning TU/e as a significant player in the global quantum computing landscape.