Quantum Mechanics

An Integral Part of Modern Day Technology

Quantum mechanics are an integral part of

modern day technology and contemporary society.
Quantum mechanics are an important part of
transistors, the main part of an integrated circuit.
Without the discovery of quantum mechanics, the
transistor would not exist. Therefore, computers and
other important modern day technologies would not
exist either. Although the idea of quantum mechanics
is a very difficult idea to conceptualize, it is an
extremely important concept to grasp in order to
understand many technologies and strange phenomena
in the world today. Max Planck, a physicist from
Germany is credited with discovering the concept of
quantum mechanics. The theory of quantum mechanics
describes the physical properties of atoms, photons,
and subatomic particles at a very small scale. This
theory gives a mathematical explanation for the
behaviour of particles at the subatomic level. There
are three main principles of quantum mechanics. The
first principle of quantum mechanics is quantized
properties. Quantized properties are properties of
particles on a very small scale. This includes the
principle that states that certain properties such
as the location and velocity of objects can only
exist in specific amounts.
This principle is different than classical
mechanics; classical mechanics states that these
properties are continuous, and exist at more than
just a specific set of quantum numbers. Quantized
properties explain why there are emission lines only
exist at certain energy levels.
 Quantum Mechanics has some importance in
technology as it is needed to design optical and
electronic components, which often take advantage of
distinctively quantum mechanical effects.
Quantum Mechanics is also important for the
theory of computation. According to QM it is
possible to build a universal quantum computer that
can simulate any physical system. This means we can
test theories about physical systems by simulating
them and then checking the results of the
simulations against reality.
As for examples, most electronic devices use
quantum effects or require QM to understand their
properties in order to make rational design
considerations. Take for example semiconductor
design. Underlying all semiconductor design is the
band theory of solids, which is a quantum theory. In
fact it's more difficult to try and find some modern
technology that's not somehow based on quantum
mechanics.

On the other hand, Quantum Mechanics

remains somewhat esoteric. Most engineers don't
study Quantum Mechanics, but rather just use the
technology that's been developed with Quantum
Mechanics. Engineers are very practical people.
They just learn what they need to know in order
for them to efficiently do their job. Usually
that doesn't require a level of depth down to
the quantum level.
However, we have entered a stage where we
are starting to develop designer quantum
technologies, and that definitely requires a
working knowledge of Quantum Mechanics. These
designer areas include quantum computing,
quantum communication and quantum metrology and
quantum materials. Therefore it's a good bet
that Quantum Mechanics will become increasingly
important for engineering of advanced
technologies going into the future.

-Apurva Patel
19BEI0020