Context:
2025 will be a century since Werner Heisenberg published a paper in which he laid the foundation of modern quantum mechanics.
Quantum mechanics
- Mechanics is a branch of physics that deals with the behavior of physical bodies when subjected to forces or displacements, and the subsequent effects of these bodies on their environment. It can be broadly divided into two main areas:
- Classical Mechanics: This includes the study of objects and systems that are large enough to be observed directly and move at speeds much slower than the speed of light.
- Quantum Mechanics: This deals with the behavior of very small particles, such as atoms and subatomic particles, and incorporates the principles of quantum theory.
Some terms associated with Quantum Science
- Superposition: A quantum principle where a quantum system can exist in multiple states or configurations simultaneously.
- Entanglement: A quantum phenomenon where two or more particles become correlated in such a way that the state of one particle instantaneously affects the state of the others, regardless of the distance between them.
- Quantum tunnelling: a phenomenon in quantum mechanics where particles exhibit the ability to pass through potential energy barriers that would be insurmountable according to classical physics.
- Quantum Teleportation: A technique that uses quantum entanglement to transfer the quantum state of one particle to another over long distances without physically transmitting the particle itself.
- Quantum Computing: A field of computing that uses quantum-mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data.
- Quantum Information: The study of how quantum systems can store, process, and transmit information.
- Quantum Cryptography: Methods of secure communication based on the principles of quantum mechanics, offering theoretically unbreakable encryption.
- Quantum Sensing: Techniques using quantum phenomena to achieve highly sensitive measurements, such as magnetic field sensing or gravitational wave detection.
- Quantum Simulation: The use of quantum systems to simulate and study the behavior of complex quantum systems that are difficult to study directly.
- Quantum Algorithms: Algorithms designed specifically to run on quantum computers, taking advantage of their unique properties to solve certain problems more efficiently than classical computers.
Read more articles related to Quantum Physics
Source: The Hindu
Previous year question
Which one of the following is the context in which the term “qubit” is mentioned? (2022)
(a) Cloud Services
(b) Quantum Computing
(c) Visible Light Communication Technologies
(d) Wireless Communication Technologies
Answer: (b)
