As one of the most internationally renowned Spanish scientists, specifically in the field of physics, he is acknowledged for his research in computation and quantum optics. Since 2001 he has been the Chairman of the Theory Division at the Max Planck Institute of Optics in Germany. He received the Prince of Asturias Award for Scientific and Technical Research (2006), the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (2008), among many other recognitions of his work.