Real Life Applications of Quantum Mechanics

Quantum mechanics might sound like a complex concept but this branch of physics has many applications that affect our daily lives in many ways.

Let’s learn some of these applications to see how quantum mechanics plays a role in the modern world.

Semiconductor and Electronics

The computer or smartphone heavily use semiconductor materials inside them. Transistors which is a semiconductor device forms the building blocks of all electronic devices, operate on the principles of quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics principle control the flow of electron in devices, allowing them to process information.

Imaging and Magnification

Techniques like MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) depend on quantum mechanics. MRI machines use the principles of quantum physics to look inside the human body without surgery. They work by detecting the magnetic fields of atoms in our body, which provides the doctors with detailed images of our internal organs. Quantum Mechanics is used in electron microscopes to understand the crystal structure and atomic arrangement of materials.

GPS Technology

The Global Positioning System (GPS) that helps us navigate from one place to another uses quantum mechanics, too. Atomic clocks, which are highly accurate clocks that measure time based on the vibration of atoms, are a key component of GPS satellites. The precision of quantum mechanics ensures that GPS systems can accurately determine locations.

Lasers

Lasers, which are used in everything from scanning barcodes at the supermarket to removing tattoos, operate on the principles of quantum mechanics. They work by stimulating atoms to emit light of a particular wavelength. This technology has countless applications in industry, medicine, and entertainment.

Quantum Computing

Quantum computing is an emerging technology that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to process information in new ways. Unlike traditional computers, which use bits as the smallest unit of information, quantum computers use qubits. This allows them to perform complex calculations much faster than current computers, opening up new possibilities for research and technology.

Solar Panels

Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity using the photoelectric effect, a phenomenon explained by quantum mechanics. This effect occurs when light hits a material and frees electrons, generating an electric current. In solar panels, not all incoming sunrays are used to generate electron-hole pair. The selection of rays which are absorbed by solar panels to generate electron hole pair is decided the energy it posses which is given as E = hv. This selection of solar rays is based on the principle of quantum mechanics.

Encryption and Cybersecurity

Quantum mechanics is also shaping the future of encryption and cybersecurity. Quantum encryption uses the principles of quantum physics to create secure communication channels that are theoretically impossible to hack without detection. This could revolutionize how sensitive information is transmitted and stored.

Quantum mechanics describes the behavior of particles at the smallest scales, such as atoms and subatomic particles like electrons and photons. It is different from classical physics, which explains the behavior of macroscopic objects. In this article, we are going to learn some real-life applications of quantum mechanics in detail.