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Category: quantum physics – Page 90

When world-leading teams join forces, new findings are bound to be made. This is what happened when quantum physicists from the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK) in Heidelberg combined atomic and nuclear physics with unprecedented accuracy using two different methods of measurement.

Together with new calculations of the structure of atomic nuclei, theoretical physicists from the Technical University of Darmstadt and Leibniz University Hannover were able to show that measurements on the electron shell of an atom can provide information about the deformation of the atomic nucleus. At the same time, the precision measurements have set new limits regarding the strength of a potential dark force between neutrons and electrons.

The results have been published in the current issue of the journal Physical Review Letters.

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Space and cooling limitations restrict the number of usable qubits. However, researchers believe connecting two qubits in separate dilution refrigerators using an optical fiber is now possible.

“The infrastructure is available, and we can now build the first simple quantum computing networks,” says Arnold.

While the ISTA physicists have made significant progress in developing superconducting quantum hardware, more work is needed. Their prototype has limited performance, especially in terms of optical power. Nevertheless, it proves that a fully optical readout of superconducting qubits is possible, and further advancements will depend on the industry.

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Can our thoughts, our very essence of being, be explained by the enigmatic laws governing the subatomic world? The Quantum Mind theory proposes just that — a radical idea suggesting that consciousness isn’t just a product of neurons firing, but intricately woven into the fabric of quantum physics. This isn’t the plot of a science fiction novel, but a burgeoning field of study captivating scientists and philosophers alike.

While seemingly disparate, the realms of quantum physics and human consciousness share a curious connection. Quantum mechanics, the study of the universe’s tiniest constituents, reveals a reality vastly different from our everyday experience, a world of probabilities and interconnectedness. Could this be the missing piece in understanding our own inner world, the subjective experience of being conscious?

This essay explores the fascinating intersection of these two fields, examining how the peculiar characteristics of the quantum realm might hold the key to unlocking the secrets of consciousness.

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Data security on the internet is under threat: in the future, quantum computers could decode even encrypted files sent over the internet in no time. Researchers worldwide are, therefore, experimenting with quantum networks that will enable a paradigm shift in the future when globally connected to form the quantum internet.

Such systems would be able to guarantee tap-proof communication through quantum mechanical phenomena such as superposition and entanglement, as well as cryptographic quantum protocols. However, the is still in its infancy: high costs coupled with high energy consumption and a high level of complexity for the necessary technologies have prevented quantum networks from scaling easily.

Two researchers at the Institute of Photonics at the Leibniz University Hannover want to remedy this situation. Using frequency-bin coding, they have developed a novel method for entanglement-based quantum key distribution. This quantum mechanical encryption technique uses different light frequencies, i.e. colors, to encode the respective quantum states. The method increases security and resource efficiency.

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Laser diodes are semiconductors that generate light and amplify it using repeated reflection or “optical feedback.” Once the light has achieved desirable optical gain, laser diodes release it as powerful laser beams.

Photonic crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs) are advanced where the optical gain is typically distributed laterally to the propagating light within a photonic crystal (PC) structure. They differ from traditional lasers by separating gain, feedback, and emission functions, offering scalable single-mode power and innovative designs. This leads to enhanced performance and new application possibilities.

In a paper that was published in the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics on 20 November 2024, researchers have developed a method to numerically simulate the interaction of light waves within PCSELs.

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A team of scientists has unlocked a new frontier in quantum imaging, using a nanoscale.

The term “nanoscale” refers to dimensions that are measured in nanometers (nm), with one nanometer equaling one-billionth of a meter. This scale encompasses sizes from approximately 1 to 100 nanometers, where unique physical, chemical, and biological properties emerge that are not present in bulk materials. At the nanoscale, materials exhibit phenomena such as quantum effects and increased surface area to volume ratios, which can significantly alter their optical, electrical, and magnetic behaviors. These characteristics make nanoscale materials highly valuable for a wide range of applications, including electronics, medicine, and materials science.

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In a groundbreaking use of teleportation, critical units of a quantum processor have been successfully spread across multiple computers, proving the potential of distributing quantum modules without compromising on their performance.

While the transfer only took place over a space of two meters (about six feet) in an Oxford University laboratory, the leap was more than enough to emphasize the feasibility of scaling quantum technology by teleporting quantum states across an ‘internet’ of connected systems.

Teleportation is a quirk of physics that only makes sense through a quantum lens, where objects exist in a blur of possible characteristics until processes of measurement force them to adopt each state.

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Theoretical physicists have long been trying to devise a complete theory of gravity that would also account for quantum mechanics phenomena, as existing models do not. Such a theory could collectively explain the many intricate physical and cosmological phenomena observed over the past decades.

Researchers at University of Maryland and University of British Columbia recently carried out a theoretical study exploring the possibility that holography, an approach to that includes some features of conventional holograms, could be used to describe quantum mechanical phenomena. Their paper, published in Physical Review Letters, introduces a theoretical argument that could suggests a link between observable cosmological phenomena and the that would underpin wormhole spacetimes.

“Coming up with a theory of gravity that includes the physics of quantum mechanics has been a major forefront area in for decades,” Mark Van Raamsdonk, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Phys.org. “This is necessary to really understand the physics of black holes and the Big Bang, and to make progress towards a fully unified theory of physics.

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In a milestone that brings quantum computing tangibly closer to large-scale practical use, scientists at Oxford University’s Department of Physics have demonstrated the first instance of distributed quantum computing. Using a photonic network interface, they successfully linked two separate quantum processors to form a single, fully connected quantum computer, paving the way to tackling computational challenges previously out of reach. The results have been published in Nature.

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