The following post takes a closer look at Optica’s 2026 Adolph Lomb Medal recipient, Sergio Carbajo, and his pioneering work in ultrafast light–matter interactions. What does his research really mean for optics, quantum science, and technology?
It spotlights his UCLA and SLAC affiliations, his leadership of the Quantum Light-Matter Cooperative, and the ripple effects he’s had on quantum information, molecular imaging, and energy research.
About the Adolph Lomb Medal and its significance
Established in 1940, the Adolph Lomb Medal celebrates outstanding contributions to optics within 10 years of a recipient’s highest degree. It’s aimed at early-career researchers whose work shows transformative potential in light science and engineering.
Past UCLA-affiliated winners include Eli Yablonovitch and C. Kumar Patel. Carbajo’s selection highlights his influential advances and his knack for turning fundamental discoveries into practical tech.
Why Sergio Carbajo is a fitting Lomb Medal recipient
Carbajo developed first-principles methodologies and made big contributions to controlling ultrafast wavepackets in quantum matter with extreme space-time precision. He holds joint appointments in UCLA’s Physics & Astronomy and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments.
He’s also a visiting professor at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. His leadership in multi-institution collaborations, especially founding the Quantum Light-Matter Cooperative, really fits the Lomb Medal’s spirit of transformative, cross-disciplinary work in optics and photonics.
Carbajo’s research program and impact
He wants to deepen our understanding and control of light–matter interactions at ultrafast speeds and quantum scales. This opens doors for advances in quantum information, molecular imaging, and energy research.
Carbajo has created new ways to visualize quantum dynamics—some folks call it “quantum filmmaking”—and he’s built compact, high-brightness light sources across the spectrum. He leads adaptive quantum sensing initiatives and works on scalable photonic quantum architectures.
His approach draws on insights from different fields to push the edge of light-driven science.
Selected contributions and ongoing projects
- “Quantum filmmaking”: visualization methods for quantum dynamics that capture ultrafast processes in real time.
- First-principles methodologies for predicting and controlling wavepacket evolution in quantum matter.
- Compact, high-brightness light sources spanning a wide spectral range.
- Adaptive quantum sensing and scalable photonic quantum architectures.
- Founding and directing the Quantum Light-Matter Cooperative, a multi-institutional collaboration.
- Entrepreneurship: patents and startups in photonics, quantum, and energy sectors.
Leadership, collaboration, and community impact
Beyond lab work, Carbajo serves as UCLA’s inclusive excellence officer in the Electrical & Computer Engineering department. He also founded the Queered Science and Technology Center, showing a real commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sciences.
He directs the Quantum Light-Matter Cooperative, pulling together cross-institution collaborations. Carbajo’s efforts stretch into mentoring, outreach, and building a research community that values representation and scientific excellence.
Beyond the lab: education, policy, and entrepreneurship
- Author of more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and contributor to about a dozen patents.
- Launched startups in photonics, quantum technologies, and energy applications.
- Active in collaborations between UCLA and SLAC, among others.
What this award means for the optics community
The Lomb Medal recognizes early-career excellence and shines a spotlight on Carbajo’s take on light–matter control. Optica’s endorsement hints at how this approach could spark new tech down the line.
It’s also another nod to UCLA’s steady impact on optics and photonics. Past Lomb Medal winners from the university have really helped push the field forward.
Here is the source article for this story: Sergio Carbajo Awarded 2026 Optica Adolph Lomb Medal