Quantum physics and quantum technology may sound unfamiliar to many, but in reality, they are both part of our daily lives. From navigation to LED lights, quantum physics has driven many technologies that people take for granted.
Many devices we use employ quantum technology, and many of these devices were developed before our knowledge of quantum physics matured enough to better understand them. Although quantum physics has been developing for over a century, scientists are still exploring this mysterious realm.
Below, we will introduce in detail some products that commonly use quantum technology in daily life.
led
LED lights, also known as light-emitting diodes, are used in almost every household because they are more energy-efficient and brighter than other light bulbs. LEDs have enriched people's lives. From fun designs like LED wallpaper to clock faces, LEDs have become integrated into people's daily lives.
LEDs work by using semiconductors, which are materials that conduct electricity between a good conductor like copper wire and an insulator like glass. These semiconductors are designed with holes, and when electrons pass through electron holes with an electric current, they release energy as photons or light particles. The color of this light is determined by the size of the holes within the semiconductor; only some LEDs utilize quantum technology.
Quantum technology in LEDs works by reducing the quantum state of electrons when they release photons. This makes LEDs more energy-efficient overall.
LEDs are used not only in home lighting but also in data communication, such as in audio systems. Furthermore, LEDs are used to transmit data over fiber optic cables and even for life detection. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is using LEDs in the ultraviolet spectrum to induce fluorescence in various organisms, such as in algal fluorescence experiments.
LEDs are also used in tattoos, where they light up when injected into the body along with tattoo ink. Several medical companies are exploring medical applications for these tattoos, including blood glucose meters or other monitoring tools. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved these devices.
The future of LEDs looks very interesting. Some companies are developing LEDs that can detect and absorb light, called "nanorods," and then using quantum sensors to observe and detect the light. Time will tell just how advanced LED technology can become.
laser
Like LEDs, lasers also utilize properties of quantum physics. According to a Forbes article, a laser works when atoms with high energy levels interact with photons with precise wavelengths, causing the atoms to emit a second photon that is exactly the same as the first. Here, the quantum state of the atoms decreases as they emit photons. This cycle repeats, producing a laser.
While lasers are common in lecture halls, they have many other applications. From military weapons and gun sights to microscopes, lasers are everywhere. Whether you're scanning groceries, engraving tags on pet collars, playing laser games, or using a laser field to rob a bank vault, all of these involve lasers.
Research even suggests that scientists may use high-powered lasers to induce rainfall and lightning storms. If possible, this could help address drought and flood disasters around the world.
Global Positioning System
Where would we be without GPS? GPS is one of the most widely used devices in our daily lives that employs quantum technology, enabling us to travel easily and efficiently.
GPS uses quantum technology in the form of atomic clocks. Atomic clocks work through properties of quantum physics. Using cesium or rubidium atoms, these clocks "tick" because oscillations of specific microwaves drive transitions between two quantum states of these atoms. Therefore, atomic clocks are extremely precise.
According to Smithsonian Magazine, the atomic clock at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado, only adds one second of error every 3.7 billion years.
GPS works by using signals from multiple atomic clocks, looking at the different arrival times from different satellites, and then taking data from the atomic clocks and satellites to determine your distance and how far away your destination is. Every time you need navigation, GPS uses the speed of light to convert the time given by the atomic clocks into distance, thus providing people with accurate navigation.
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a well-known method used by doctors and other professionals to image the human body. MRI machines use quantum technology to image soft tissues and other parts of the body that may not be clearly visible on X-rays.
MRI machines work by using hydrogen atoms, whose nuclei, like all atoms, have a specific arrangement of spins. MRI machines use carefully placed magnetic fields to flip these hydrogen atoms' spins. These spin flips are part of the hydrogen atom's quantum state and can alter the interactions between these atoms at the quantum level. By using these flips, doctors can look at different concentrations of hydrogen in the body and see things that are not visible on X-rays.
While all these devices may seem ordinary, they wouldn't function without quantum physics. Understanding the role of quantum physics and quantum technology in people's daily lives reveals their importance.
As quantum technology advances, its influence on popular culture will continue to grow. We eagerly await to see what quantum technology devices people will use in their daily lives next.
