From GPS to Laser Pointers, Quantum Science Is All Around Us
If you’ve gotten around with GPS, had an MRI, or tormented your cat with a laser pointer, quantum science is a part of your life.
Ahead of World Quantum Day this week, we asked Andrew Wilson, who leads NIST’s Quantum Physics Division, to explain just what exactly quantum science is and why it matters.
We’re celebrating World Quantum Day. Let’s start simply. When we say “quantum,” what do we mean by that?
Well, it means different things to different people. But it essentially comes down to using fundamental quantum properties to do great things. When people talk about using quantum, it generally comes down to two things:
- Quantum superposition is something that has two possible forms being in both of those forms to some extent at the same time.
- Entanglement means you’ve got at least two things that are always connected together; they have no independent existence anymore. Something that happens to one always affects the other. It’s kind of romantic!
Entanglement and superposition are resources for quantum computing. These are what make quantum computing powerful.
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