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There are many practical applications of quantum mechanics. The one that I remember foremost is tunneling to (dis)charge the floating gates on flash memory tra

by chasil 5y ago

There are many practical applications of quantum mechanics. The one that I remember foremost is tunneling to (dis)charge the floating gates on flash memory transistors, but that just scratches the surface. "Flash memory chips found in USB drives use quantum tunneling to erase their memory cells." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applications_of_quantum_mechanics https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applications_of_quantum_mech... This I did not know: "It even exists in the simple light switch. The switch would not work if electrons could not quantum tunnel through the layer of oxidation on the metal contact surfaces."

michaelwilson 5y ago
But does it flow through wires? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHIhgxav9LY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHIhgxav9LY
- chasil 5y ago
  It collapses through chloroplasts! https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-it-comes-to-photosynthesis-plants-perform-quantum-computation/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-it-comes-to-... Ironic that plastid-based life is so much more advanced than us, but we are the ones that ended up with (super)intelligence.
jayd16 5y ago
Is there something specific about oxidized metal that electrons need quantum tunneling to move through them? Why can't we just assume its normal conductivity?
- chasil 5y ago
  Aluminum is extremely reactive, and the classic method of liberating this energy is through thermite reactions. Without the oxidation layer on aluminum, it would be an extremely hazardous substance. "Breaking bad" covered this with an etch-a-sketch. Sometimes chemistry can be surprising. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite
  - jayd16 5y ago
    That's neat but I don't really follow. Why isn't the oxidation layer just a higher impedance material? Why is quantum tunneling required to explain a light switch?

by chasil 5y ago

michaelwilson 5y ago

But does it flow through wires? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHIhgxav9LY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHIhgxav9LY

chasil 5y ago
It collapses through chloroplasts! https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-it-comes-to-photosynthesis-plants-perform-quantum-computation/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-it-comes-to-... Ironic that plastid-based life is so much more advanced than us, but we are the ones that ended up with (super)intelligence.

jayd16 5y ago

Is there something specific about oxidized metal that electrons need quantum tunneling to move through them? Why can't we just assume its normal conductivity?

chasil 5y ago
Aluminum is extremely reactive, and the classic method of liberating this energy is through thermite reactions. Without the oxidation layer on aluminum, it would be an extremely hazardous substance. "Breaking bad" covered this with an etch-a-sketch. Sometimes chemistry can be surprising. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite
- jayd16 5y ago
  That's neat but I don't really follow. Why isn't the oxidation layer just a higher impedance material? Why is quantum tunneling required to explain a light switch?