Johannes Hagmann - Light and Matter: An exhibition in the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology at the Deutsches Museum
The exhibition "Light and Matter" presents the foundations of quantum optics and demonstrates historically how our understanding of light and matter has evolved over the past century. These new insights are essential for the fields of quantum science and quantum technologies, which are both active areas of intensive research today. The exhibition, which was developed in cooperation with the Cluster of Excellence “Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology” (MCQST), was opened in the summer of 2024 and will be shown throughout the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology in 2025.
The present talk will introduce a behind-the-scenes view of the development process of the exhibition, including the scholarly work as well as the collection and interpretation of material culture in the field of quantum optics. It will highlight selected aspects of the exhibition's messages and narratives, including the dual-use potential of Cold War research, research in the two Germanies in the field of laser physics, and the presentation of the contributions of women in the history of quantum optics to the general public.