Posted on 10/23/2001 5:15:41 PM PDT by Starmaker
A few weeks ago we just got one big step closer to having quantum computers and teleportation. This is because atoms have an almost ‘psychic´ ability that Einstein once termed spooky. It seems that distant atoms are almost ‘telepathically´ linked to each other in what scientists call entanglement. Plainly put, it means that a group of atoms ‘over here´ knows what a group of atoms ‘over there´ are doing. This is one of the properties of atoms described by of a branch of science called Quantum Theory.
The word ‘quantum´ means a discrete or separate unit of energy, and Quantum Theory tries to explain the properties of these basic units of nature. When people think of atoms, they usually envision solid, separate balls of matter like a group of billiard balls. However, according to Quantum Theory, atoms are much less tangible, with properties that can only be described (right now) as spooky.
One of the first weird things we learned about quantum particles was that we could know where a particle was, or when a particle was, but we could never know both at the same time. Because it reminds me of the socks I always lose in the wash, I call it "Beth´s Principle of Lost Socks and Quantum Particles." (I would know when I had a full pair of socks, or where that full pair had been, but do the laundry and the full pair would be gone.) In fancy terms, we´d say we knew a particle´s location or it´s velocity, but not both. This discovery is called the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, and understanding it is critical to understanding the possibilities inherent in Quantum Theory.
Quantum particles such as atoms or photons can exist in distinct states, like the head or tail of a coin. But these same particles can also exist in both states at once (known formally as superposition). This is comparable to a coin spinning in the air before it lands.
Now let´s suppose we toss two coins at once. Whichever way one coin lands has no bearing on how the other coin lands. Because of this, we say their outcomes are independent -- if one coin lands heads up, it will not effect the way the other coin lands. However, two entangled quantum particles are not like coins. The fate of one effects the fate of the other. For instance, if one entangled quantum particle is in a 'heads' state, the other must be in a 'tails' state. We say that they are interdependent. And this interdependence is the whole key to teleportation.
For any practical applications, entanglement has to embrace thousands, or even millions, of particles, and maintaining total entanglement is very difficult. However, the scientists have found a way around this problem.
They do without complete entanglement, where the state of each particle depends on the state of every other particle. Instead, they generate two loosely entangled clouds of cesium gas, one with slightly more atoms in a 'heads' state and the other with slightly more in a 'tails' state. (These two states are actually defined by the directions of the atoms' magnetic fields.) By doing it this way, many more atoms can be entangled, and stay that way for a longer period of time.
So how does this translate into teleportation? Well, it does and it doesn´t. But the final effect is the same as teleportation. One set of quantum particles can be instantaneously reproduced somewhere else. So unlike Star Trek, objects are not broken down and their particles ‘beamed´ somewhere. Instead, they are reproduced somewhere. In this way a message encoded in photons of light could be transmitted from one place to another without sending the photons across the intervening space, effectively bypassing the speed-of-light barrier.
Up until now, the maximum amount of particles that scientists could entangle were a measly four atoms. This most recent experiment entangled about a million atoms, bringing us much closer to the realization of teleportation, quantum computers, and a new form of instant communication over vast distances.
Humans who live currently cannot possibly comprehend what humans who will live a mere 100 years from now will know and understand about the universe and existence...
They will possess power we have not yet dreamed of...
The secrets of the extremely large will come from learning the secrets of the very small...
Consciousness on planet earth is about to be forced to deal with it's own power...
It is now time for the conscious human being to learn not to fear the power that he possesses...
But instead learn to control it...
Up until now, the maximum amount of particles that scientists could entangle were a measly four atoms.
Unfortunately (especially since this article is for readers who may never have heard of entanglement) there are two ways to read that, and one way is 'the only particles they can entangle are atoms, and the max total is 4 of these' This is reinforced by the second line ("This is because atoms have..."). This is not true - light and electrons are the usual mediums for these experiments - usually they produce continuous beams of entangled particles.
Then again, quantum theory and all, light/electrons - is it fair to refer to them as a PARTICLE OR a WAVE??? - ARRRRRRGH!
Or maybe the future will be owned by bunches of electrons or photons circulating through networks. Or maybe super intelligent nanobots that humans (the few that are left around) won't even be able to see.
Oh well. We had a nice 1,000,000 year ride while it lasted!
PHILIP K. DICK ~ LIES, INC. ~ FIRST EDITION ~ NEW IN DUST JACKET ~
Another good place to look for old books is at Powell's (although they don't have this one at the moment).
Looks like the Amazon auction ends in less than 3 hours, BTW...
It would be helpful if the author actually understood what he was writing about.
The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states (in lay terms) that we can't similataneously determine a quantum particle's position (location) AND momentum to an arbitrary degree of accuracy. As momentum is the product of the particles' mass times its velocity, the implication is that we can know the location of the particle, or its velocity, or we can know both to a limited degree of accuracy, but not BOTH to an arbitrary degree of accuracy at the same time.
Quantum Physics & its "strange by-products" have produced fertile "ground" for LOTS of fun speculation!
We have SO MUCH to learn--if the psychotic followers of "Osama's Islam" can , once again, be rendered "Irrelevant!"
Doc
Tha's completely wrong. Quantum entanglement cannot be used to transmit a signal faster than the speed of light. If I have time later, I'll write up a layman's explanation of why. This is a good question for the future FR physics FAQ.
Everyone knows the furthest point away from an object is right next to it! LOL
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