Semester:
Offered:
Norman Yao (Department of Physics)
First-Year Seminar 52R 4 credits
Quantum mechanics is one of the most precisely tested theories in the history of science. Advances in the laboratory are ushering in a so-called “second quantum revolution”, making it possible to assemble complex, quantum systems from individual atoms, ions, molecules and photons. But what are such systems actually good for?
Participants will explore this question along three axes. In the first four weeks, we will examine whether entanglement – Einstein’s famous “spooky action at a distance” – can enable more precise measurements than would normally be allowed in our classical world. In the next five weeks, we will cover the basic pillars of quantum computing; our focus will be on understanding the physical systems from which a quantum computer can be built, as well as the algorithms that it can run. Finally, in the last three weeks, we will investigate what happens when quantum systems are taken far away from thermal equilibrium. We will discover that this opens the door to entirely new phases of matter, including time crystals.
Prerequisites: High school level preparation in physics and mathematics at the level of the advanced placement curriculum; or having taken Physics 15a, 16, or 19 in the Fall.