A curious observer’s guide to quantum mechanics, pt 7: The quantum century - Ars Technica

Understanding and manipulating quantum devices has been like getting an intoxicating new superpower—there are so many things we can now build that would have been impossible just a few years ago.

As this is the last article in this series, I’d like to look to a near future where quantum technologies are likely to infuse our everyday existence.

One does not have to look far—all of the technologies we’ll explore today already exist.

In this article, let’s focus on some of the technologies that we did not encounter in earlier articles: superconductivity, particle polarization, and quantum electronics.

As we look at these quantum technologies, envision what it will be like to live in a world where quantum devices are everywhere.

What will it mean to be technically literate when knowing quantum mechanics is a prerequisite for understanding everyday technology.

So pick up your binoculars, and let's look at the quantum technologies coming over the next ridge.

In a normal conducting wire, you can attach a battery and measure how quickly the electrons move through it (the current, or number and speed of electrons).

The temperature at which the waviness of electrons takes over depends on the crystal the electrons are in, but it is always cold, involving temperatures at which gasses like nitrogen or helium become liquids.

The magnet in an MRI machine is similar, in that it’s just a big coil of wire.

But when you have ~1000 Amps of current flowing through the wire, keeping the magnet working becomes expensive.

Once it is superconducting, you can plug it into a power source and ramp up the current (this takes 2-3 days—there's a great video of plugging in an MRI magnet).

While MRI machines are the most visible examples, superconducting magnets are actually quite common.