OSU professor named American Physical Society fellow for quantum physics research
Friday, October 23, 2026
Media Contact: Jet Turner | Associate Director of Marketing and Communications | 405-744-9559 | jet.b.turner@okstate.edu
Key Facts
Oklahoma State University physics professor Dr. Yingmei Liu was elected a 2026 American Physical Society Fellow, an honor awarded annually to fewer than 0.5% of eligible members.
Liu is the first OSU faculty member elected an American Physical Society Fellow for research in atomic, molecular and optical physics.
Liu’s quantum physics research explores ultra-cold atoms, quantum sensing and simulation, with potential applications in medicine, materials science and other fields.
Liu’s OSU research group developed what she describes as Oklahoma’s only programmable quantum simulator.
Liu has received more than $6 million in research awards and mentored more than 30 undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars at OSU.
Dr. Yingmei Liu, a professor of physics at Oklahoma State University, has been elected a 2026 Fellow of the American Physical Society for her research on ultra-cold atoms.
The society recognized Liu for “fundamental contributions to the physics of spinor Bose-Einstein condensates and quantum walks.” Established in 1921, the fellowship honors exceptional contributions to the field of physics. Less than 0.5% of the society's members, not counting students, are elected each year.
Liu said she was happy when she learned of the election.
“I’m delighted to be the first OSU faculty elected for research on atomic, molecular and optical physics,” Liu said.
Liu studies Bose-Einstein condensates, a state of matter that forms when a gas of atoms is cooled to temperatures near absolute zero. At that point, the atoms settle into the same quantum state, which makes them incredibly hard to differentiate.
She works with a version called spinor condensates, where the atoms also have a spin. That gives researchers more control over how the atoms behave and makes the condensates useful for building very precise magnetic-field sensors.
Liu said the quantum approach makes sensors better at spotting small magnetic signals and pinpointing where they come from. Such sensors could help find mineral resources, detect archaeological sites from space, produce non-invasive medical images for earlier diagnosis and predict earthquakes.
Beyond sensing, Liu’s research also explores how quantum systems behave and how they can be used to study complex interactions between particles.
Her lab has also built a programmable quantum simulator, a machine that mimics how tiny particles interact with one another. Liu said her students and postdoctoral scholars created the only one of its kind in Oklahoma.
Some quantum systems are so complex that even the fastest conventional supercomputers cannot simulate them accurately. Liu said her group has shown that the OSU simulator can be more powerful than a conventional computer. Such simulators could help researchers study ways to store quantum information and develop new materials.
Liu said her group will next explore uses for the simulator in quantum information sciences, especially precise sensing.
Liu had led an experimental quantum physics group at OSU since 2009 and has been a professor and Noble Foundation Endowed Chair in laser research since 2020. Her research has drawn more than $6 million in awards from federal and state agencies, including a National Science Foundation CAREER award.
"I’m so proud of and grateful for the 30+ talented OSU’s physics undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars who have worked in my quantum research group in the last 17 years." Liu said.
FAQ
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Who are the American Physical Society Fellows at Oklahoma State University?
Dr. Yingmei Liu, a professor of physics at Oklahoma State University, was elected a 2026 American Physical Society Fellow for her contributions to spinor Bose-Einstein condensates and quantum walks. She is the first OSU faculty member elected for research in atomic, molecular and optical physics.
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What quantum physics research is being conducted at Oklahoma State University?
OSU professor Dr. Yingmei Liu leads an experimental quantum physics group studying ultra-cold atoms, quantum sensing and complex particle interactions. Her lab has developed a programmable quantum simulator to investigate quantum systems and potential applications in quantum information science.
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Does Oklahoma State University have a quantum simulator?
Yes. Dr. Yingmei Liu’s research group at OSU developed a programmable quantum simulator that mimics interactions between quantum particles. According to Liu, it is the only simulator of its kind in Oklahoma and has demonstrated capabilities beyond conventional computing for certain quantum systems.
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How could quantum physics research at OSU benefit society?
Dr. Yingmei Liu’s research at OSU explores quantum sensors capable of detecting small magnetic signals with high precision. Potential applications include medical imaging, mineral exploration, archaeological detection and earthquake prediction.
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Can students participate in quantum physics research at Oklahoma State University?
Yes. More than 30 undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars have worked in Dr. Yingmei Liu’s quantum physics research group at OSU since 2009, contributing to research involving ultra-cold atoms, quantum simulation and quantum sensing.
Story By: Colby Lewis | colby.t.lewis@okstate.edu