Quantum is the word
Oct. 9th, 2012 11:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ellestraToday it's time for the Physics Nobel and it's quantum. Serge Haroche of France and David Wineland of the US got the prize for "ground-breaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems".
Serge Haroche at Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, France, and David Wineland at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Colorado, Boulder both work in the field of quantum optics. They approach on detecting the quantum states of particles from opposite directions - Wineland used photons to measure the properties of ions trapped by electric fields, while Haroche used superconducting mirrors to cage photons making them travel back and forth inside for more than a tenth of a second (long enough to travel 40,000 kilometres - distance equal to Earth equator). Both managed to invent ways to measure and control tiny quantum objects without destroying their fragile states. Normally the "observer" effect would cause the collapse of quantum state. Their methods allow to detect particles to observe them in their natural state. This bodes well for quantum computers, devices that exploit the weird properties of quantum systems to solve problems that stymie ordinary computers.
"The new methods allow them to examine, control and count the particles" which may lead the way to superfast computers and "the most precise clocks ever seen".
It's funny how both this and yesterday's Nobels are for such a sci-fi subjects. Both are about something that's been horribly misused, mostly in B-movie and TV episodes. Stem cells, cloning and all that quantum stuff that's basically magic for SF (and some of the crazier religious leaders). It's been all treated so badly I cringe when I hear anyone on screen (books are usually better researched) mentioning it as I prepare to do mental list of WRONG. It's nice to remember actual science behind it all. It's not made up and it's not magic. It just doesn't work like your paper headline implies.e
Serge Haroche at Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, France, and David Wineland at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Colorado, Boulder both work in the field of quantum optics. They approach on detecting the quantum states of particles from opposite directions - Wineland used photons to measure the properties of ions trapped by electric fields, while Haroche used superconducting mirrors to cage photons making them travel back and forth inside for more than a tenth of a second (long enough to travel 40,000 kilometres - distance equal to Earth equator). Both managed to invent ways to measure and control tiny quantum objects without destroying their fragile states. Normally the "observer" effect would cause the collapse of quantum state. Their methods allow to detect particles to observe them in their natural state. This bodes well for quantum computers, devices that exploit the weird properties of quantum systems to solve problems that stymie ordinary computers.
"The new methods allow them to examine, control and count the particles" which may lead the way to superfast computers and "the most precise clocks ever seen".
It's funny how both this and yesterday's Nobels are for such a sci-fi subjects. Both are about something that's been horribly misused, mostly in B-movie and TV episodes. Stem cells, cloning and all that quantum stuff that's basically magic for SF (and some of the crazier religious leaders). It's been all treated so badly I cringe when I hear anyone on screen (books are usually better researched) mentioning it as I prepare to do mental list of WRONG. It's nice to remember actual science behind it all. It's not made up and it's not magic. It just doesn't work like your paper headline implies.e
