Quantum: the second revolution unfolds

Quantum is a field of research designed to under­stand the laws of the uni­verse, but also to devel­op tech­no­lo­gies that are revolu­tion­ising a range of sec­tors such as health­care, space and electronics.

Des­troy micro­scop­ic can­cer cells, cut out corneas, per­form MRI scans, replace old light bulbs with energy-effi­cient LEDs, com­mu­nic­ate via fibre optics: all are made pos­sible by research into quantum phys­ics and asso­ci­ated developments.

Today, we are on the cusp of what Nobel Prize winner Alain Aspect calls the “second quantum revolution”, which could lead to disruptive technologies such the quantum computer.

In this issue of 3.14, you’ll find his exclus­ive inter­view, as well as art­icles by experts in the field that will help you bet­ter under­stand the uni­verse of the infin­itely small.

What you’ll find:

• The basics: what is quantum phys­ics and why is there talk of a second revolution? 

• The applic­a­tions: which indus­tries are already bene­fit­ing from the advances of quantum technology?

• The com­puters: what is the poten­tial of quantum computing?