Kevin Peters is the winner of the Ehrenfest-Afanassjewa physics thesis prize 2025. He carried out his research in the group of Said Rodriguez at AMOLF and successfully defended his PhD at Utrecht University on September 4. His thesis, entitled A Symphony of Noise in Nonlinear Optical Resonators, describes his research which combines photonics, nonlinear dynamics, statistical physics, and related fields.
The Ehrenfest-Afanassjewa thesis award
The award is an initiative of the Dutch Physics Council. The award is named after Paul Ehrenfest and Tatiana Afanassjewa because of their exceptional ability to stimulate young researchers to leave the beaten path. Kevin will receive a prize certificate and € 5,000, to be spent freely. The Ehrenfest-Afanassjewa physics thesis award will be awarded during the NWO Physics conference in Veldhoven on 20-21 January 2026.
The jury is very impressed about the combination of experimental work and theory and about the conceptual innovations that Kevin Peters has brought to the research field. The jury recognizes this as exceptional, especially given that he had to build his experimental setup and develop analytical and numerical methods from scratch.
Thesis insights
Multiple new findings and insights are described in Kevin’s thesis. For example, Kevin demonstrated how a wide range of signals can be amplified by adding noise to a system. Kevin first predicted this possibility by solving a novel equation that he derived. In another line of research, Kevin demonstrated an optical sensing strategy that, paradoxically, yields more information by measuring less. In another surprising result, Kevin demonstrated how the precision of a clock can be increased free of energy cost.
Recognition of exceptional research output
Kevin has shown broad vision and came up with original research methods at the crossroads of information theory, nonlinear dynamics, and optics. Many of Kevin’s insights were influenced by his embedding in the Information in Matter department at AMOLF, which motivated him to see his optical systems through the lens of information. Kevin’s numerous results have already reshaped thinking across fields of physics and are truly exceptional. His broad and deep physics knowledge are clearly reflected in his thesis, which consists of a series of relatively short chapters conveying many of his findings.
His thesis also contains a fascinating, extensive (historical) introduction, which is appreciated by the jury. Kevin’s thesis findings have resulted in 13 peer-reviewed publications so far, including 5 in Physical Review Letters.
Learn more
To find out more about research in the Interacting Photons group of Said Rodriguez.
