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Its funny. Quantum Mechanics was invented about 90 years ago but the first cool applications are coming out today.

by ape4 13y ago

gnaritas 13y ago
Discovered not invented.
mistercow 13y ago
Arguably, LASERS and modern semiconductors both rely on our understanding of QM. Hard drives using GMR have been around for at least 16 years. Erasing of flash drives uses quantum tunneling. MRIs probably would not be possible without an understanding of QM. Computational chemistry relies heavily on QM. So no, I don't think your statement is accurate. QM has been giving us cool applications for decades. The amazing thing is that it's still giving us amazing new advances even after all this time.
- ISL 13y ago
  Agreed entirely; an upvote wasn't enough. Quantum Mechanics has been delivering the goods since their invention. While the maser surely is an explicit application of quantum mechanics, placing theoretical chemistry onto a solid physical framework may have had the greatest aggregate impact on humanity. From a scientific perspective, much of what we know about the universe requires spectroscopy. Everything we know about subatomic processes requires quantum understanding as a prerequisite. Quantum effects are so curious/clever that we should continue to expect interesting surprises into the foreseeable future.
gus_massa 13y ago
There are infinitely many real world applications of the quantum theory, from the spectrum of neon lamps to the nuclear magnetic resonance images. Another is all the solid state physics, and in particular superconductors and in particular modern computers, are based in quantum theory applications. If you want a direct quantum phenomena that you use at your home everyday, you can choose giant magnetoresistance used in hard disk heads: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_magnetoresistance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_magnetoresistance . This is my favorite case to explain that strange quantum effects have real world direct applications. Just start talking about the spin in currents in magnetic conductors and then add the sandwich with non-magnetic conductors, and then suddenly explain how it is used in hard disks. It's difficult to choose a cool application because there are too many, but let's try: A cool application: LEDs! A cooler application: Laser diodes!! A coolest application: Green Laser pointers!!! (They are actually an infrared laser diode that pumps another infrared laser that passes through a frequency doubling crystal to make it green.) ( See the last image of http://searchwarp.com/swa141478.htm http://searchwarp.com/swa141478.htm )

Its funny. Quantum Mechanics was invented about 90 years ago but the first cool applications are coming out today.

by ape4 13y ago

Its funny. Quantum Mechanics was invented about 90 years ago but the first cool applications are coming out today.

gnaritas 13y ago

Discovered not invented.

mistercow 13y ago

Arguably, LASERS and modern semiconductors both rely on our understanding of QM. Hard drives using GMR have been around for at least 16 years. Erasing of flash drives uses quantum tunneling. MRIs probably would not be possible without an understanding of QM. Computational chemistry relies heavily on QM. So no, I don't think your statement is accurate. QM has been giving us cool applications for decades. The amazing thing is that it's still giving us amazing new advances even after all this time.

ISL 13y ago
Agreed entirely; an upvote wasn't enough. Quantum Mechanics has been delivering the goods since their invention. While the maser surely is an explicit application of quantum mechanics, placing theoretical chemistry onto a solid physical framework may have had the greatest aggregate impact on humanity. From a scientific perspective, much of what we know about the universe requires spectroscopy. Everything we know about subatomic processes requires quantum understanding as a prerequisite. Quantum effects are so curious/clever that we should continue to expect interesting surprises into the foreseeable future.

gus_massa 13y ago

There are infinitely many real world applications of the quantum theory, from the spectrum of neon lamps to the nuclear magnetic resonance images. Another is all the solid state physics, and in particular superconductors and in particular modern computers, are based in quantum theory applications. If you want a direct quantum phenomena that you use at your home everyday, you can choose giant magnetoresistance used in hard disk heads: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_magnetoresistance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_magnetoresistance . This is my favorite case to explain that strange quantum effects have real world direct applications. Just start talking about the spin in currents in magnetic conductors and then add the sandwich with non-magnetic conductors, and then suddenly explain how it is used in hard disks. It's difficult to choose a cool application because there are too many, but let's try: A cool application: LEDs! A cooler application: Laser diodes!! A coolest application: Green Laser pointers!!! (They are actually an infrared laser diode that pumps another infrared laser that passes through a frequency doubling crystal to make it green.) ( See the last image of http://searchwarp.com/swa141478.htm http://searchwarp.com/swa141478.htm )