Quantum mechanics is a field of physics that deals with the behavior of matter and energy at a very small scale. It has been studied for more than a century now and has led to several technological advancements in different areas, ranging from microelectronics to quantum computing. But the question is, are quantum mechanical calculations useful for engineering?
Basic Level Quantum Mechanics
At the basic level, quantum mechanics deals with a single particle or a single particle interacting with a single atom or nucleus. At this level, quantum mechanics has been helpful in several technologies that are currently available. For instance, electron diffraction, the diffraction of electrons from crystals, was an early prediction of quantum mechanics that was confirmed experimentally. Knowing about electrons’ diffraction is essential for constructing electron microscopes – knowing the relationship between wavelength and momentum.
Another example of basic level quantum mechanics is lasers. Lasers come from spontaneous emission theory. Einstein’s prediction that a coherent collection of bosons will make other bosons be created with the same momentum preferentially was very surprising. This concept of Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) was found due to the familiarity of the theoretical principles. BECs lead to several technological advancements, including the construction of lasers and the study of superfluidity.
Advanced Level Quantum Mechanics
Advanced level quantum mechanics, on the other hand, deals with highly entangled many-body quantum mechanics involving many-body effects that cannot be understood from a single-particle or single-field picture. However, this level of quantum mechanics still leads to practical predictions. The BCS (Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer) theory is a good example. This theory predicts that any very cold Fermi system with the weakest of attractive interactions will produce a strange vacuum state, where it resembles a Bose-Einstein condensate of paired fermions, even when the force is too weak to bind two individual fermions into actual pairs. The presence of other fermions in the sea is necessary, creating a condensate of particles that do not exist really.
Another example is the design and construction of semiconductors, which require an understanding of many-body effects. The p-type semiconductors’ theory relies crucially on many-body effects, which creates particle hole symmetry, making them useful in the computer revolution.
Inscrutable Level Quantum Mechanics
Finally, the inscrutable level of quantum mechanics is quantum computing— actual exponential computation compared to classical behavior. Although quantum computing’s computational powers are yet to be fully realized, it has the potential for several technological advancements. For instance, a quantum computer will be able to simulate other quantum systems efficiently, which is impossible on a classical computer. Another advantage of quantum computing is the ability to factor numbers given a quantum computer, which will make current cryptographic systems insecure.
Other potential applications of quantum computing include Grover’s database search, which allows you to search a database with N items in steps, and guaranteed secure communications, which ensures that the communication partner is not eavesdropped on. However, for the full-blown computational applications, we won’t be 100% sure if they will work until we build them.
QM Advances with Predictive Power
From what we have experienced, experiments are already producing results. Simultaneously, theorists are still trying to fit their theories to the data. So why do you need theoretical calculations? The answer is that they have predictive power that would be found easier and more precise with experiments. Regardless of pure theoretical research results, several QM advances could potentially make a change in our lives.
With the advancements in quantum mechanics, several applications with practical results are expected. However, to realize these applications, further advancements in fundamental research are necessary. The answer to whether quantum mechanics calculations are useful for engineering is a resounding yes. In conclusion, Quantum mechanics tools and techniques are significantly useful in various engineering fields. Over the years, quantum mechanics has grown to include more advanced tools and techniques, which have been instrumental in the advancement of diverse areas of technology.
Are Quantum Mechanics Calculations Useful For Engineering?
Quantum mechanics is a field of physics that deals with the behavior of matter and energy at a very small scale. It has been studied for more than a century now and has led to several technological advancements in different areas, ranging from microelectronics to quantum computing. But the question is, are quantum mechanical calculations useful for engineering?
Basic Level Quantum Mechanics
At the basic level, quantum mechanics deals with a single particle or a single particle interacting with a single atom or nucleus. At this level, quantum mechanics has been helpful in several technologies that are currently available. For instance, electron diffraction, the diffraction of electrons from crystals, was an early prediction of quantum mechanics that was confirmed experimentally. Knowing about electrons’ diffraction is essential for constructing electron microscopes – knowing the relationship between wavelength and momentum.
Another example of basic level quantum mechanics is lasers. Lasers come from spontaneous emission theory. Einstein’s prediction that a coherent collection of bosons will make other bosons be created with the same momentum preferentially was very surprising. This concept of Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) was found due to the familiarity of the theoretical principles. BECs lead to several technological advancements, including the construction of lasers and the study of superfluidity.
Advanced Level Quantum Mechanics
Advanced level quantum mechanics, on the other hand, deals with highly entangled many-body quantum mechanics involving many-body effects that cannot be understood from a single-particle or single-field picture. However, this level of quantum mechanics still leads to practical predictions. The BCS (Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer) theory is a good example. This theory predicts that any very cold Fermi system with the weakest of attractive interactions will produce a strange vacuum state, where it resembles a Bose-Einstein condensate of paired fermions, even when the force is too weak to bind two individual fermions into actual pairs. The presence of other fermions in the sea is necessary, creating a condensate of particles that do not exist really.
Another example is the design and construction of semiconductors, which require an understanding of many-body effects. The p-type semiconductors’ theory relies crucially on many-body effects, which creates particle hole symmetry, making them useful in the computer revolution.
Inscrutable Level Quantum Mechanics
Finally, the inscrutable level of quantum mechanics is quantum computing— actual exponential computation compared to classical behavior. Although quantum computing’s computational powers are yet to be fully realized, it has the potential for several technological advancements. For instance, a quantum computer will be able to simulate other quantum systems efficiently, which is impossible on a classical computer. Another advantage of quantum computing is the ability to factor numbers given a quantum computer, which will make current cryptographic systems insecure.
Other potential applications of quantum computing include Grover’s database search, which allows you to search a database with N items in
steps, and guaranteed secure communications, which ensures that the communication partner is not eavesdropped on. However, for the full-blown computational applications, we won’t be 100% sure if they will work until we build them.
QM Advances with Predictive Power
From what we have experienced, experiments are already producing results. Simultaneously, theorists are still trying to fit their theories to the data. So why do you need theoretical calculations? The answer is that they have predictive power that would be found easier and more precise with experiments. Regardless of pure theoretical research results, several QM advances could potentially make a change in our lives.
With the advancements in quantum mechanics, several applications with practical results are expected. However, to realize these applications, further advancements in fundamental research are necessary. The answer to whether quantum mechanics calculations are useful for engineering is a resounding yes. In conclusion, Quantum mechanics tools and techniques are significantly useful in various engineering fields. Over the years, quantum mechanics has grown to include more advanced tools and techniques, which have been instrumental in the advancement of diverse areas of technology.