Solving tricky quantum optics problems with assistance from large language models

Pandey, Manas [Indian Inst. of Technology (IIT), Kanpur (India)] (ORCID:000900004409940X); Madhusudhana, Bharath Hebbe [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000184821778); Ghosh, Saikat [Indian Inst. of Technology (IIT), Kanpur (India)]; Budker, Dmitry [Johannes Gutenberg Univ., Mainz (Germany); Helmholtz Institute Mainz (Germany); GSI-Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt (Germany); University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000273564814)

doi:10.1038/s42005-025-02398-2

DOE OSTI · 3003176

Solving tricky quantum optics problems with assistance from large language models

Pandey, Manas [Indian Inst. of Technology (IIT), Kanpur (India)] (ORCID:000900004409940X)·Madhusudhana, Bharath Hebbe [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000184821778)·Ghosh, Saikat [Indian Inst. of Technology (IIT), Kanpur (India)]·Budker, Dmitry [Johannes Gutenberg Univ., Mainz (Germany); Helmholtz Institute Mainz (Germany); GSI-Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt (Germany); University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000273564814)

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Abstract

The capabilities of modern artificial intelligence (AI) as a “scientific collaborator” are explored by engaging it with three nuanced problems in quantum optics: state populations in optical pumping, resonant transitions between decaying states (the Burshtein effect), and degenerate mirrorless lasing. Through iterative dialogue, the authors observe that AI models–when prompted and corrected–can reason through complex scenarios, refine their answers, and provide expert-level guidance, closely resembling the interaction with an adept colleague. The findings highlight that AI can democratize access to sophisticated modeling and analysis, shifting the focus in scientific practice from technical mastery to the generation and testing of ideas, and reducing the time for completing research tasks from days to minutes.

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74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS 97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING Atomic and molecular physics Computational science

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Pandey, Manas [Indian Inst. of Technology (IIT), Kanpur (India)] (ORCID:000900004409940X), Madhusudhana, Bharath Hebbe [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000184821778), Ghosh, Saikat [Indian Inst. of Technology (IIT), Kanpur (India)], Budker, Dmitry [Johannes Gutenberg Univ., Mainz (Germany); Helmholtz Institute Mainz (Germany); GSI-Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt (Germany); University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000273564814). 2025-11-07. Solving tricky quantum optics problems with assistance from large language models. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02398-2

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