An Irish physicist has won the prestigious Institute of Physics Faraday Prize for his outstanding contributions to science.
Prof JC Séamus Davis of University College Cork (UCC) was honoured for achievements that include inventing advanced microscopic instruments.
His instruments capture images of quantum matter with what his award citation said was “unprecedented precision”.
“Before we pictured in our minds what we believed quantum matter looked like, but we never knew for sure as we could never see it,” Davis said.
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“Our instruments are like a superpower that have revolutionised how we see quantum matter.”
The award commemorates the 19th century British scientist Michael Faraday, inventor of the first electric motor.
It was one of several announced by the UK-based Institute of Physics, whose president Paul Howarth said the recipients represented “the very best of physics”.
“Through their curiosity, expertise and dedication, they are expanding knowledge, driving innovation and inspiring the next generation of scientists,” he said.
Davis was also congratulated by UCC president, Prof John O’Halloran.
“His pioneering work has enabled us to see the fabric of all matter at its most fundamental level, enhancing our understanding of quantum physics and laying a foundation that will pave the way for the technology of tomorrow,” he said.
Davis, who is also professor of physics at the University of Oxford, said he was focused on the “new frontier” in quantum physics with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
He said AI could process and analyse data in days that for humans, would take years.
“The amount of data we produce with our instruments is huge – going over all of it alone would be almost impossible,” he said.
“Imagine taking 10 million photographs of the night sky, and trying to identify all the stars in each image, that is the scale of the challenge we face.”
