By Aniya Thangamuthu
The world we perceive around us is simple and operated according to the deterministic, classical physics of Euclidean geometry. However, beneath that reality is a deeper layer where quantum laws reign. This is called quantum mechanics - it represents the science of tiny particles. The behaviour of atoms and electrons, and similar sorts of particles, are governed by quantum mechanics. Often confined to advanced physics laboratories, though it is, the influence of quantum mechanics on our daily lives is profound in many ways. Wherever you look-from the things that we use in our daily lives to matters such as the glass of water you are now drinking – quantum mechanics is always there. At the level of observation, quantum mechanics defines the world we live in. Since this essay focuses on quantum mechanics, it will explore how quantum mechanics shapes our reality and getting down to some applications of this interesting field.
Quantum mechanics is based on the principle that energy can only be present in discrete amounts. It has numerous applications in electronics. An example of such an application is the Light Emitting Diode (LED) which we use every day in our lives, that is reliant on quantised energy levels in semiconductors. In semiconductors, when an electron recombines with a hole in the valence band there is light released and it becomes possible to recognize LED light from this particular characteristic. The same way modern computers are built by using transistors that control flow of electrons within their quantized energy states. Quantum mechanics not only dictates how individual particles behave but also determines their interactions with one another. Electrons occupy orbitals around atoms, zones where electrons might reside in, with varying probabilities. Electron arrangement within these orbitals determines an atom’s chemical properties and its ability to bond with other atoms. This encompasses the entire field of chemistry because we know how different elements combine together to produce molecules having unique properties, which form the basis for all matter found around us.
Quantum mechanics transcends the technology and materials we use every day revolutionising medicine too. MRI(Magnetic Resonance Imaging), an innovative, non-invasive medical practice that is used widely in hospitals around the world, takes advantage of the nuclear properties that are in line with quantum mechanics. By using powerful magnetic fields and radio waves, the MRI scanners are able to manipulate the magnetic spin states of the nucleus inside the body,
facilitating the generation of detailed imagery of the organs and tissues. This was a significant breakthrough, very much being at the frontier of medical diagnosis, as it was capable of spotting anomalies and diseases in a way that was quite unprecedented.
Quantum mechanics has a far-reaching influence; beside that, it determines the way technology is going to develop in the future, especially in the spheres of computations and communications. The fundamental principles of quantum computing are superposition and entanglement, and it is their application that proves to be so advantageous in comparison with classical computers. The concept of superposition is vital to the operation of qubits, now the smallest units of quantum computing. It allows a quantum bit to exist simultaneously in multiple states as opposed to the classical 0 and 1 bit which can only be in one state at a time. The phenomenon that is intrinsic for any two entangled qubits is that those are linked together in some kind of way so that no matter how distant the separation is, they remain correlated in the state where each of them gets inevitably affected. An unbelievable property, which can be harnessed. They have the ability to break through the inconsistency barriers of classical machines when surmounting some complex problems.
One of the examples could be using quantum computers to revolutionise drug discovery by mimicking complex molecular interactions within the system, which would dramatically accelerate the process of discovering new drug candidates, or to improve materials science by modelling tailored materials with certain properties. Quantum cryptography, exploiting the perturbed systems and the randomness of quantum mechanics, has exceptional allure for cracking of the messages by the eavesdroppers.
Although these game-changing inventions have presented us with the roadblocks, they are also holding the key to their success in overcoming them. Qubits' quantum status maintenance is the greatest of the challenges, because they are very fragile, they tend to decay, i.e. the qubits will lose their quantum properties due to the interaction with the environment. Also, when we get to the point of scaling quantum computers that are faster than classical computers, in practice, this problem still exists.
The power of quantum mechanics is undeniable, even in light of all its uncertainty. With further development and research, we can expect an even greater scope of innovation and influence on the course of development. Quantum mechanics can transform virtually any field of development, from materials science and artificial intelligence to financial modelling. Our trip into the exciting but uncertain quantum world has only just started, and the possibilities it creates for our future is limitless.
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