5.2 QUANTUM THEORY AND THE ATOM PART 2 Some practical applications of quantum mechanics

From Wikipedia http://en. wikipedia From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mechanics “Quantum mechanics is a set of principles underlying the most fundamental known description of all physical systems at the submicroscopic scale (at the atomic level). Notable among these principles are simultaneous wave-like and particle-like behavior of matter and radiation (“wave-particle duality"), and the prediction of probabilities in situations where classical physics predicts certainties. Classical physics can be derived as a good approximation to quantum physics, typically in circumstances with large numbers of particles. Thus quantum phenomena are particularly relevant in systems whose dimensions are close to the atomic scale, such as molecules, atoms, electrons, protons and other subatomic particles. …Quantum theory provides accurate descriptions for many previously unexplained phenomena such as …..stable electron orbits.”

So quantum mechanics is one of the most basic – and the most successful – theories in science What good is it?!

There are many examples of technology that apply quantum mechanics, and much exciting research currently happening to develop further applications!

Nuclear power is one example ….

As are MRI’s

At Harvard, scientists are working on a way to make significantly better solar energy cells, using the fact that “When It Comes to Photosynthesis, Plants Perform Quantum Computation” Scientific American, April 2007

Another exciting field of current research is QUANTUM COMPUTING Theoretically, a quantum computer would be exponentially faster than our current machines. “Quantum entanglement” is the theory being utilized here. Einstein called this spooky action at a distance

“Quantum tunneling” makes possible many everyday items such as the transistor; it may also play a significant role in smell and enzymes

There is so much fascinating research underway in applications of quantum theory… Study your science, and you can be a part of it! Graduate students in the Georgia Tech School of Physics, adjust optics in a system used to study quantum memory