*Twitch*
Scientists have developed a technique that will produce quantum effects on a scale visible to the naked eye. As of yet, these quantum effects are only detectable when employing special technology. From the article:
Quantum properties are most prominent in single particles. In bigger objects thermal vibrations destroy the quantum effects. So in theory, chilling a large object should allow its quantum properties to shine through.
This week, three teams of physicists have perfected a way of doing this (Nature, vol 444, p 67). Their technique is to bombard a mirror of roughly 1014 atoms with photons in a way that damps out thermal vibrations, cooling it to 135 millikelvin.
Read the full story.
I wish I could give you more than this, but I really can't comprehend the possible implications right now. Teleportation (of simple objects, at least) is obviously a possibility, if we can learn to control the spatial relationship involved in how an object appears in two places at once. Other than that? Uh...
Quantum properties are most prominent in single particles. In bigger objects thermal vibrations destroy the quantum effects. So in theory, chilling a large object should allow its quantum properties to shine through.
This week, three teams of physicists have perfected a way of doing this (Nature, vol 444, p 67). Their technique is to bombard a mirror of roughly 1014 atoms with photons in a way that damps out thermal vibrations, cooling it to 135 millikelvin.
Read the full story.
I wish I could give you more than this, but I really can't comprehend the possible implications right now. Teleportation (of simple objects, at least) is obviously a possibility, if we can learn to control the spatial relationship involved in how an object appears in two places at once. Other than that? Uh...