Interesting Facts
The phenomena of quantum mechanics are sometimes surprising - even in the eyes of researchers - as they contradict our everyday experience. Nevertheless, we have fully understood quantum mechanics: all experiments agree with our theoretical description. This understanding of quantum mechanics, together with the fact that many phenomena are beyond our expectations, has led to a huge potential for technological developments - especially those that we cannot yet imagine. With new quantum algorithms, quantum computers will solve new, highly complex problems, quantum materials with their diverse properties will be usable as intelligent materials and sophisticated methods of entanglement could lead to completely new sensor technology. There are no limits to creativity in the field of quantum applications. So far, we have only explored a fraction of the possibilities.
Some of the terms used in the quantum world are briefly explained below.
Quantum Computer
In the Welt der Physik podcast, Rainer Blatt reports on the physical phenomena on which a quantum computer is based and how such a computer can be technically realised. The PhysikJournal takes a look at the developments in quantum computing over the last 30 years.
Quantum Communication
Large amounts of information can be transmitted through fibre optic cables in the form of light pulses. However, this is not tap-proof in principle. Quantum communication uses entangled photon pairs instead, which are connected based on the laws of quantum mechanics. Eavesdropping is then futile. For future quantum communication networks, the aim is to reliably generate pairs of entangled photons at the touch of a button and to overcome long distances with the help of quantum repeaters, as explained in ‘Phsikkonkret’.
Quantum Dots
Quantum dots typically consist of one thousand to ten thousand atoms of a semiconductor material. The spatial extent of such structures is in the nanometre range. In these dimensions, quantum mechanical effects dictate what happens and give rise to astonishing properties. For example, the electrons contained in quantum dots can only occupy certain energy levels - similar to those in an atom.
Quantum Sensors
In the Welt der Physik podcast, Friedemann Reinhard explains what quantum sensors are and what they can do better than their classical counterparts. They are used, for example, in earth observation, navigation, materials testing and chemical or biomedical analysis, as explained in DPG's ‘Physikkonkret’.
Quantum Simulator
Quantum simulators should help to gain deep physical and practical insights into the world of complex systems, many-body systems and optimisation tasks. They make it possible to solve problems that even supercomputers would struggle with, as explained in ‘Physikkonkret’.
Multiverse
Multiverse, many worlds, parallel universes - what sounds like science fiction has its origins in an original interpretation of quantum mechanics presented by the American physicist Hugh Everett III (1930 - 1982) in 1957. This is still the subject of controversial debate today... and is particularly popular in science fiction films. Find out more in the Welt der Physik podcast and in the PhysikJournal.