Tag Archives: quantum mechanics

Phonons in our future

Ever heard of a ‘phonon torpedo’? How about a ‘phonon laser’? Not that either? No wonder, they don’t exist. Although a phonon is to sound as the photon is to light, we do not know much about working with phonons. However, here is news concerning research that – one day – may bring about devices [...]
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Quantum chemistry – a new world

Here’s the story in a nutshell: Scientists have long known how to control the internal states of molecules, such as their rotational and vibrational energy levels. In addition, the field of quantum chemistry has existed for decades to study the effects of the quantum behavior of electrons and nuclei—constituents of molecules. But until now scientists have [...]
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Update: Quantum photosynthesis

Just to underline the post Quantum mechanics in photosynthesis, oh my. there’s another take on the interpretation and significance of the research at Cosmic Variance. Here’s a sample: We can think about this in terms of Feynman’s way of talking about quantum mechanics: rather than a particle taking a unique path between two points, as [...]
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Quantum mechanics in photosynthesis, oh my.

Just when biologists thought they were getting a handle on some of the molecular behavior in cells, along come other scientists to reveal that at least in photosynthesis the ‘crazy’ world of quantum mechanics has been put to work. Oh my, indeed. Not that this comes as a huge surprise. Quantum physics underlies everything in [...]
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Breakthrough will lead to further entanglements

The title of this post, “Breakthrough will lead to further entanglements” should be taken literally…and figuratively. An experiment by L. G. Herrmann in France, working with colleagues in France, Spain, and Germany, and published in Physical Review Letters has demonstrated for the first time in a solid state device the property of quantum mechanics called [...]
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Quantum gas microscope sees quirks

Continuing the recent spate of announcements concerning new scientific instruments, researchers at Harvard University have developed a quantum gas microscope that can glimpse into the quantum mechanics world, for example the behavior of supercold rubidium atoms. The what, you say? Well, rubidium is one of the more esoteric elements (Rb – atomic number 37) that [...]
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Diode tunneling into quantum computing

One way or another, computers will eventually incorporate aspects of quantum physics. They may be true ‘quantum computers’ or just use components based on quantum mechanics, but the trends are moving in the quantum direction. (I realize quantum direction is pretty much an oxymoron.) We’re almost at the end of the road for current silicon-based [...]
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