Since Einstein, quantum mechanics has been playing with scientist minds and frustrating many. Recently, with the rise of technology, quantum mechanics has found new ways to make waves and make headlines. Here are a couple of exciting breakthroughs.
- We are one step closer to making Quantum computers a house-hold device
“Quantum computers”- a common buzz term in today’s day and age-presents exciting, and even concerning, possibilities for the future of technology. For an enjoyable high-level explanation of quantum computing, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvTqbM5Dq4Q.
I also explain quantum computers in a fun way here: https://seantarzy.medium.com/genuine-leader-pt-4-cd6b6fb849d2. Basically, quantum computing allows us to run many functions simultaneously which brings about computers with unprecedented speed.
In order to have quantum computers, we need to have entangled pairs of photons to transmit such information. For some time, researchers trap light into miocrocaveties and as light circulates within the cavity, the photons split into entangled pairs. However, this system requires hundreds of millions of photons before an entangled pair is born.
Scientists at the Stevens Institute of Technology have found a new way to efficiently create entangled photons. From a single micro-watt, power laser beam, entangled pairs can be created with a hundred times more efficiency.
Yuping Huang, Gallagher associate professor at Stevens Institute of Technology, states, “Someday soon we want kids to have quantum laptops in their backpacks, and we’re pushing hard to make that a reality.”
2. We also have made a huge breakthrough in communications.
In fact, the implication is that we can transmit sound through barriers, no matter how thick or tall, at a rate of 100%! Back in 1929, physicist Oscar Klein laid the groundwork for this, positing that a particle can penetrate a barrier, hence the name: “Klein Tunneling.” Since then, scientists have been working relentlessly to achieve Klein’s vision, but have found transmission loss an inevitability, until now.
The research team at the University of Hong Kong found the key to be human-made phononic crystal, a material used to manipulate soundwaves, which could be fine-tuned to excite a particle that would accomplish Klein tunneling.
This discovery paves the way for very exciting possibilities. If climate change catches up to us, we may have the technology to talk to each other under water without losing any bit of transmission.
