John Rarity facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Rarity
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Rarity in 2015
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John G. Rarity
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| Alma mater | University of Sheffield Royal Military College of Science |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | University of Bristol |
| Thesis | Number fluctuation spectroscopy applied to coagulating dispersions (1984) |
John G. Rarity is a British scientist who studies physics. He is a professor at the University of Bristol. There, he teaches about systems that use light for communication. He started this job on January 1, 2003.
Professor Rarity is a top expert in quantum optics. This field looks at how light behaves at a tiny, tiny level. He also works on quantum cryptography, which uses quantum physics for super-secure communication. His work often involves single photons (tiny packets of light) and entanglement. Entanglement is a strange connection between particles. He is part of the Quantum Computation and Information group at the University of Bristol.
Becoming a Scientist
John Rarity studied at the University of Sheffield for his first degree. Later, he earned his PhD in 1984 from the Royal Military College of Science. His research for his PhD looked at how light can be used to study tiny particles clumping together.
Discoveries and Career
Before joining the University of Bristol in 2001, Professor Rarity worked as a physicist. He was at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). This agency was part of the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom).
While at DERA, he made important discoveries. He showed how quantum interference works over long distances. He also demonstrated non-locality, which means particles can be connected even when far apart. In 1994, his team showed a violation of Bell's Inequality. This experiment proved a key idea in quantum physics. They did this over 4 kilometers of optical fiber.
After that, his team worked on quantum cryptography. This is a way to send secret messages using quantum physics. His team set a world record for secure quantum cryptography. They sent messages through the air over 1.9 kilometers. In 2002, he worked with a university in Munich. They successfully sent quantum messages through the open air over 23.4 kilometers.
Since moving to the University of Bristol, Professor Rarity has built a team. They work on experiments in quantum optics. One of their projects has gained a lot of attention. They are working with HP Labs to create cheaper quantum key distribution systems. These systems help send secret information very securely. They make it cheaper by using special LED lights instead of lasers.
In 2007, Professor Rarity helped with another project. They used free space optical communication for quantum key distribution. They sent quantum messages through the air over 144 kilometers. This was between the islands of Tenerife and La Palma.
Important Writings
Professor Rarity has written several books. One is called Microcavities and Photonic Bandgaps: Physics and Applications. He has also written many important scientific papers. Two well-known papers are Practical quantum cryptography based on two-photon interferometry and Experimental violation of Bell's inequality based on phase and momentum.
Awards and Honors
In 1995, Professor Rarity received the Thomas Young Medal and Prize. This award recognizes achievements in optics.
In 2015, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.
