2012 physics Nobel recognizes experiments probing quantum world

Two scientists , Serge Haroche and David Wineland , have won the Noble prize in physics for their pioneering work in quantum optics . Their discoveries can eventually lead to the development of quantum computers.

The two were cited for related but independent work: Haroche bounces light particles between mirrors to probe their quantum states, and Wineland creates traps for charged atoms and shoots in laser light to control those particles.

Discoveries based on those experiments have already been used to develop ultra-accurate atomic clocks and could eventually lead to the development of quantum computers much faster and more secure than existing electron-based technology.

Wineland’s team has made atomic clocks so accurate that scientists can measure relativistic effects over extremely short distances or time periods. The most accurate clock in the world, which uses aluminum ions

This year’s physics prize is worth 8 million Swedish kronor, or about $1.2 million, and will be shared equally between the winners.

Link : www.sciencenews.org...

Working with light waves seems to be the latest scientific breakthroughs.
All I had as a child was a battery for a flashlight Robby the Robot.
Where is the quantum in all this as it just sounds like light waves.

wtf is wrong with people. How was this not bigger news?

reply to post by ubeenhad


I found this to be the most interesting part:

Like Wineland, Haroche has used his experimental setup to create quantum states inspired by the famous Schroedinger’s cat paradox. In this, a quantum system exists in a superposition of two states (such as the cat being both alive and dead at the same time) until a measurement is made and the system is resolved into one of the two possible states.

How is this measurement being done?

reply to post by ubeenhad


I really liked that video because he explained the process pretty well:

1) Isolate and trap the particle so it doesnt react with the environment.
2) Watch the quantum physics that goes on inside that particle.

Previously it was difficult to observe the quantum reaction, but the guys who got the price have found ways to do this using mirrors.

So what happened here is that the scientists went from a theoretical knowledge of quantum physics, to being able to actually start building stuff that is based on quantum science (since they can now see whats going on inside the particle).

Its just a paradigm shift in technology. No big deal.