Harikesh Ranganath

University of Strathclyde

The most exciting thing that’s happened this year:
Google’s Quantum Computer.

The scientists at google have successfully built a “computer” that operates on quantum principles. Such a computer is firstly an engineering marvel, and also a proof of principle that Quantum Mechanics works even on such scales. This computer will be used to test out quantum algorithms and perhaps see application in modelling chaotic systems such as weather models.

My latest work:

I work on a Quantum Gas Microscope. This is essentially a camera with resolution enough to see individual atoms (with a few tricks). We use high intensity lasers to trap Potassium atoms in a vacuum. We then shake them with Raman lasers to make them emit light and we take a picture! Below is what a typical picture looks like (each bright spot is a single atom of Potassium!).

My favourite science misconception:

Quantum Physics is pretty crazy. It’s perhaps the most insane thing we have learnt about nature.

However, quantum physics (and particularly “Quantum Entanglement”) is often misunderstood to mean something like “Everything is connected” or other new age spiritualistic interpretations. There are even well read books, expensive seminars which talk about “Quantum Healing” which of course has nothing quantum about it at all.

In fact, quantum physics is a lot cooler than such spiritualistic interpretations! I always love to talk about it!