Quantum Mechanics - Group 5 by Max Scherm https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq en-us 2023-05-31 15:54:22 UTC 2023-06-12 15:50:18 UTC hello@padlet.com Max s201063908 https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2610715703 2023-05-31 16:01:47 UTC https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2610715703 Massi s201063941 https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2610716960 2023-05-31 16:03:02 UTC https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2610716960 Question 1 s201063908 https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2610718297 How were incandescent bulbs further improved using quantum mechanics into CFL's and LED's.]]> 2023-05-31 16:04:12 UTC https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2610718297 How will the development of new quantum technology, such as quantum computing, impact our society once it is commercially available? s201063941 https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2610718630 2023-05-31 16:04:35 UTC https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2610718630 Answer: https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2611935778 -For LED lights electrons in the conduction band of the semiconductor material recombine with electron holes in the valence band. 

This process is called “recombination”, it releases energy in the form of photons, which are the particles of light.

-An understanding of quantum mechanics helps scientists understand how electrons interact with the semiconductor lattice

this understanding of quantum mechanics is ultimately what enabled scientists to further improve the incandescent light bulbs into CFL’s and LED’s


]]> 2023-06-01 15:09:34 UTC https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2611935778 Answer: s201063941 https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2611936700 The light bulb is a device that makes use of quantum mechanics, therefore taking a look at its evolution is similar to looking at the history of quantum mechanics itself. In other words, the improvements in lightbulbs is directly proportional to our continually evolving understanding of quantum mechanics and its properties. 

Incandescent Light Bulbs: The energy levels of the atoms and the distribution of emitted light are governed by quantum mechanical principles.

CFL’s: The process of fluorescence involves the absorption of UV photons by the phosphor atoms and the subsequent re-emission of visible photons, which follows the laws of quantum mechanics.

LED’s: The bandgap of the semiconductor determines the color of the emitted light, and quantum mechanics helps explain the behavior of electrons within the band structure.

this understanding of quantum mechanics is ultimately what enabled scientists to further improve the incandescent light bulbs into more efficient forms such as CFL’s and LED’s


Next Question:
Just as how a deeper understanding of quantum mechanics enabled scientists to create a more efficient light bulb, what else in our daily lives can become more efficient or has already become more efficient with quantum mechanics?

]]> 2023-06-01 15:10:33 UTC https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2611936700 Answer: s201063908 https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2612016178 Quantum computing uses qubits (quantum bits) instead of regular bits compared to regular computing. Bits represent a binary value of either 0 or 1.

Qubits can be realized with a multi state device that are determined probabilistically, which is known as superposition

Being in superposition means that something can be in multiple states at once before it's measured. An example would be the spin of an electron and the uncertainty principle.

Qubits can be used to speed up complex computing calculations such as optimization problems and simulations.

Already, quantum technologies have already been put into different commercial areas. Some examples include the medical business, with MRI machines, and drug development.

One of the largest areas as of lately for quantum computing, has been within the development of artificial intelligence. Recently AI has created a storm with the exponential growth of this technology. 

AI is an extremely powerful tool that has already been given out commercially, which has been controversial across the world with it causing a cheating problem within education, security, and even starting to take jobs humans once had. 

This sudden spike of AI technology will seemingly only continue to grow, and with it its controversy, as it can even learn from itself and adapt into new forms of itself to become an even more powerful tool if used correctly

Next Question:
If the growth of AI is related to the discoveries within quantum computing, will there be a peak at which no more discoveries can be made and the growth of AI will slow down?

]]> 2023-06-01 16:38:24 UTC https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2612016178 Answer s201063908 https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2614111621 Recent surge of technology within the last 100 years, even more so within the last 40 years. Technology such as portable laptops, fiber-optics, cell phones and the internet have all been invented within this timeframe, and have pushed the boundaries of knowledge and understanding for everybody.

For example, the invention of smartphones has given a nearly infinite amount of knowledge to the 85% of the entire population who own a smartphone due to the internet. The internet itself has evolved into its own quantum form, known as the quantum internet.

Quantum internet is the network that quantum computers use, similar to how a work computer uses the internet we know. Quantum computers through their internet are able to send signals to each other rather than using radio waves. These signals are much more efficient in terms of processing data compared to radio waves, which allow for the purposes of quantum computers (solving complex problems) to be carried out faster.

Most electronics produced today that are used in everyday lives, ranging from smartphones to refrigerators and microwaves have highly complex electronics inside. An example of one of their components is a semiconductor.
Semiconductors are components that have electricity between a conductor and an insulator. The conducting metals have electron delocalization, which is a result of quantum superposition within the atoms of the material. These semiconductors are then able to adapt to a wide range of currents and voltages needed for these electronics.

Next Question:
If quantum computers have their own internet relative to normal, everyday computers at home; how do these two “internets” differ?]]> 2023-06-04 20:25:42 UTC https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2614111621 Answer: s201063908 https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2614261086 Both the internet, and quantum internet are vast networks used by their respective computers.

The internet we know how to use is primarily our main source of information, with a curation of websites, social media, news outlets, and online shopping. 

However, the internet is actually a wire. This could be buried in the ground, pinged from satellites, or used through cell phone networks. A computer (which could house a server) can connect directly to the internet, with its own unique IP address (internet protocol).

The computers in our house that we use are known as clients, which must first be connected indirectly to an “internet service provider” (ISP). When opening a new webpage, “packets” from one IP address are sent to your ISP, which could send it to the world wide web (WWW), which will then send it back to you, opening up the webpage on your computer. Throughout this, your packet will be sent throughout multiple different routers to ensure that your request remains on your IP address.

While regular computers share information through bits (0 and 1), the quantum internet uses quantum bits (qubits, can represent 0 and 1 at the same time[superposition]). These qubits have a very strong connection through quantum entanglement. This is where changing the property of one qubit, it will instantly change the property of a linked qubit, even from very far away. Instead of having multiple servers and clients in separation of your computer and the server it wants to access, there can be multiple steps where perhaps a sneaky hacker wants to take a peek at your information. While much more complex than this, through qubits the information would be transferred from one to another, and then have its encryption key be destroyed before the hacker is even allowed to see. 

To create qubits, scientists are studying a way to shine a laser  on a single ion in a very particular way that will encode quantum information, with then the ion will create a photon in which relays the same information. When photons connect, the ions become entangled.

So as it’s still under theory and studied to this day, quantum internet isn’t at all its “own” internet. Instead, it’s something more similar to an add-on to the internet we already have, in which security is better, as well as overall speeds and efficiency.

Next question:
How does quantum entanglement actually work, and in what ways can it be applicable to the technology of quantum mechanics?]]> 2023-06-05 01:48:42 UTC https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2614261086 Answer s201063941 https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2614939375 In the early days, when the concept of quantum mechanics was still new, mathematicians realized that quantum particles were capable of forming “correlations” with each other. Essentially, this means that the quantum state of one particle (meaning the direction in which it spins) could be identified from another particle, no matter the distance between the two at the time the “state” was being measured. This concept is what Einetin famously called “ spooky action at a distance”.
The concept of entanglement is essential to quantum computers. Entanglement is the source of their immense power and abilities. 
In quantum computing, the concept of entanglement is effectively used as a computational multiplier for qubits (quantum bit, an explanation can be found in Max’s answer to my first question). The amount of qubits that are entangled together are directly proportional to any given system’s ability ro make calculations. 
There is also a downside to entanglement in relation to quantum computers as well. Even a little bit of interference from the outside world is capable of breaking the correlation between two or more qubits, as they are known to be very fragile. This is because qubits must only entangle with one another, they movement they entangle with outside factors, the cease to work. 

Next Question: The weakness relating to quantum entanglement is a pretty big one. Potentially stopping the development and commercialisation of quantum computers altogether. What is being done to solve this problem, and what is the process involved?]]> 2023-06-05 15:31:41 UTC https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2614939375 Answer s201063941 https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2615006827 From a computing perspective, quantum computers can allow for quicker and lower cost calculations for cobinatoric arithmetic. In theory, quantum computers as it relates to the world of commercial computing, are able to do many of the things that normal computers can do, with one key exception. They are able to perform combinatorics calculations very quickly. 
The introduction of this kind of technology will revolutionize industries that will greatly impact people’s day to day lives, essentially changing the world itself. These industries include but are not limited to: Chemical and 1. Biological engineering, the discovery and manipulation of molecules. 2. Cybersecurity, today’s encryption is primarily built on combinatorics, with the assumption that the code is unbreakable. With quantum computers the code will be broken very easily. 3. Artificial intelligence; Quantum computing opens up opportunities through the new found advantage of quick combinatorics calculations.

The company Honeywell predicts quantum technology will form a trillion dollar industry in the decades ahead. The industry will have a massive influence over the global economy once the product is ready to be commercially available. 


Next Question: 
What are the potential dangers of this kind of technology being widely available, and in the wrong hands?]]> 2023-06-05 16:41:40 UTC https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2615006827 Answer s201063908 https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2616054171 While most widely used Artificial intelligence open to the public have been programmed to not answer controversial questions, however it's been seen time and time again that some light persuading is able to make the AI answer, whether it be unprofessional, biased, or entirely untruthful. When placed with a difficult question, Ai can often claim untrue information, with the behaviour now commonly known as “hallucinations”. While currently this is one of the largest issues with AI, as it can cause major issues with systems that can rely on AI, such as medical units or mental health advice. The issue isn’t aided with the human-like naturalness to the way it speaks; giving a false sense of truthfulness when responding to given prompts.

With the growth of Artificial intelligence and its influence in our modern society, both interest and caution is taken with its introduction into the workplace. Many believe that it will begin to take more human jobs, as it can create more efficient workers with less error. While jobs like labouring and acting as a lawyer, AI has begun their careers within tech industry (ex.programers), media industry (ex. advertising), and even the finance industry (ex. Financial analysts)

A study at Oxford University showed AI could replace up to 47% of current jobs within the next two decades. WIthout a doubt, this causes fear throughout society, not knowing if they’ll be next on the chopping block in place of AI at their place of employment.

Another issue could be the loss of control similar to movies such as “The Terminator”. While hyperbolized and science-fiction, the issue comes from how the AI learns. Its behaviour and knowledge comes from analysing different data across the internet. However, Data posted on the net can be biased, skewed, or entirely made up; which can lead to odd behaviours in AI, as it can begin to spiral and if they were able to learn their own power they could be devastating. AI, if too powerful, will begin to write and read their own code, creating new risks towards their usefulness and purpose.

Next Question
If AI becoming too powerful for its own good is a very real possibility, how can this affect the future of science, specifically within the progression of quantum understanding?]]> 2023-06-06 15:58:52 UTC https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2616054171 Answer s201063941 https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2616363123 Heat is responsible for most of the problems relating to quantum computers. It affects the qubits of quantum computers, ruining the operations being performed by the computer. Therefore, quantum computers must be kept very cold, more specifically, just a little over absolute zero. 
However, to operate a computer, one must incorporate some interface with the non-quantum world, and unfortunately such technology sits at room temperature. Meaning that scientists must bring more of those electronics into the dilution refrigerator where the qubits are found (a device that provides constant cooling reaching colder temperatures). 


The following is a list of possible solutions scientists from various companies, such as Google, are currently working on to solve quantum computings heat related sensitivity/issues:


Cryogenic Refrigeration: One method to combat the heat problem in quantum computers is by using cryogenic refrigeration systems (refrigeration by way of liquid nitrogen or solid/liquid carbon dioxide). 

Active Cooling Systems:These systems use various cooling methods, such as liquid cooling or thermoelectric coolers to dissipate the heat generated by quantum computers. Continually removing heat from the system allows cooling mechanisms to prevent overheating and maintain the stability of the qubits.

Heat Management Design: This approach involves engineering the architecture and components of quantum computers to optimize heat dissipation. Researchers are currently exploring the use of materials with low thermal conductivity to minimize heat transfer between different components. They are also investigating designs that allow for efficient heat removal from individual qubits to prevent localized heating issues.

Therefore, active measures are being taken to ensure the full functionality of quantum computers despite its heat related weakness. 

Once the problem is fixed and quantum computers become part of the norm, what kind of regulations would be put in place to ensure it’s safe and responsible use, and who would enforce it?]]> 2023-06-06 23:42:50 UTC https://padlet.com/s201063908/e5es3c77hzslr4lq/wish/2616363123