At one time, artificial intelligence, video calls, and even automobiles lived in the realm of science fiction – yet with bold vision and innovation, the world’s greatest minds made these inventions real. Today, the word “quantum” may evoke images of the future, but at UConn, quantum is already here.
Scientists at UConn are on the forefront of the second quantum revolution, uncovering how to leverage the science of quantum physics to create new technologies in computing, sensing, communication, and simulation to solve the most complex problems facing our society.
Quantum physics (also known as mechanics) describes the smallest, most fundamental things in our universe, such as subatomic particles. Researchers theorize that particles in the quantum world act differently than in classical physics. Instead of binary yes/no answers, there are many possibilities of how particles will react when faced with barriers and other variables.
“In the quantum world, rules on what is possible are drastically different from our everyday expectations,” explains UConn theoretical physics professor Alexander Balatsky.
UConn’s work in this space goes back decades, and dozens of researchers across the University are advancing quantum technology to open the doors to personalized medicine and imaging, ultra-precise navigation, unbreakable data security, and more.