Нow did this profession come about

Perhaps you have already read on our website about the professions of an atomic engineer and medical physicist and you know that there is atomic physics, which studies the structure and properties of atoms. And there is also quantum physics, which also studies elementary particles, but from the point of view of the interaction of energy and matter inside them. There is an even narrower part of quantum physics - quantum mechanics, which seeks a practical application of quantum theory.

The most interesting thing in quantum mechanics is that it studies the laws of the microcosm, which cannot be seen even with the strongest microscope, and the most interesting thing is that at this level, somewhat different laws operate than in the physical world visible to the eye. The discovery of the quantum world was made in 1900 by German scientist Max Planck - observing how a heated metal changes its color, he came to the conclusion that light can be both a particle (atom) and a wave (radiation), that is, it can be in two states simultaneously ... He was supported by the famous Albert Einstein, who found out that light is emitted not continuously, as scientists previously believed, but in portions - that is, in quanta. A quantum of light, for example, is called a photon.

So, quantum mechanics describes the microworld. For you to imagine - for example, for the orange atom to become the size of an orange, the orange itself will need to be enlarged to the size of the globe! In the macrocosm, if you have two boxes and you put a cube in one of them, the second will be empty. And in the quantum world, a cube can be in two boxes at the same time. Can't believe it, right? But science has proven this to be the case.

That is why the processes of quantum physics are not suitable for the creation of large aggregates - oil rigs, bridges, cars, and so on, but absolutely necessary in the design of microprocessors for smartphones, flat-panel TVs and all modern electronics in general. And before that, quantum technologies gave humanity transistors, lasers and mobile communications.

In our digital age, the time has come for the creation of a quantum computer that will surpass in performance and accuracy any computing systems that existed before. Information in a quantum computer is measured not by bits, as in a "normal" computer, but by qubits. A bit can have only two dimensions - 0 or 1. Whereas a qubit can be, according to the laws of quantum mechanics, in a superposition - that is, be both 0 and 1. Therefore, a quantum computer is able to process multivariant states at the same time, and the normal one counts each option separately. Imagine how much this increases the possibilities for data processing!

Let's see what areas of activity a quantum technology specialist has.

Чем может заниматься инженер по квантовым технологиям?

What can a quantum technology engineer do?

Quantum computers

It’s even hard to imagine what a leap the technologies will make when the first “big” quantum computer starts working! After all, such a device is capable of solving problems of an incredibly difficult level, which - just think! - an ordinary computer may take tens or even hundreds of years. At the same time, a full-fledged quantum computer has not even been created yet - at the moment, developers are dealing only with so-called quantum simulators, or adiabatic computers. Can you imagine how much interesting and important work you have ahead of you?

Quantum cryptography

Can you imagine an Internet connection that cannot be hacked or tracked, and the data transfer rate is measured in gigabytes per second? All this is possible thanks to the "principle of quantum entanglement". It lies in the fact that between quantum particles, for example photons, the connection is maintained regardless of the distance between them and the obstacles that stand in their way. In fact, this is not a data transfer, but a real teleportation!

Thus, colossal quantum data that can be transmitted over colossal distances, no one can decipher or hack! Quantum cryptography takes all digital communications and, most importantly, the security of their transmission to a completely new level.

Quantum sensors

In recent years, science has achieved success in the development of microscopic devices that operate according to the laws of quantum mechanics and therefore are able to record changes at the level of the microworld, that is, tiny particles. This is an incredibly useful technology, primarily for medicine. Not so long ago, scientists have proven that cancer cells have a higher temperature than healthy ones. Quantum sensors can detect these cells down to the atom - and thus diagnose dangerous neoplasms in the body.

In addition to medicine, ultra-miniature and hypersensitive sensors will come in handy for spacecraft navigation, control of unmanned vehicles, construction and many other areas. Most likely, in a couple of decades, quantum sensors will be used everywhere, even in household appliances in your home. And you can help this happen!