Intuitively, the theory of quantum mechanics doesn’t fit with many of the laws we are familiar with from classical physics. It is especially hard to imagine how a particle can be in ‘two states at once’. Yet, this principle is one of the keys to this revolutionary technology that is changing the world.
A century ago, unsatisfied with classical explanations about the strange behavior of particles, physicists opened a new branch of physics: quantum mechanics. The United Nations has chosen 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, to celebrate 100 years since the initial development of quantum theory.
Quantum science provides a powerful and detailed description of matter, on which virtually all modern technology depends. And the more we learn about the quantum world, the closer we are getting to having functional quantum computers. These computers have immense computing power and can perform complex calculations exponentially faster than classical computers. Thanks to quantum computers we could make great strides in science, such as developing personalized medicine and finding new solutions to our energy needs.
Dr. Anne-Marije Zwerver is no longer available to give this lecture. However, Dr. Sjoerd Loenen will take over for her.
Quantum physicist Sjoerd Loenen will guide you through the world of qubits, entanglement, superposition and other quantum properties crucial to quantum computing. He will explain how a quantum chip is built and how, since qubits perform calculations in a fundamentally different way than we are used to, not only new hardware but also new algorithms need to be developed for quantum computing.
TU/e alumnus dr. Sjoerd Loenen did a master in Applied Physics at TU/e and obtained his PhD from QuTech at the TU Delft. Currently he is a quantum hardware engineer in a quantum startup in Delft. He enjoys explaining the complex world of quantum physics and its underlying theories in an accessible way. He uses examples from his own research with lattice defects in diamond to make quantum science tangible to a wider audience.
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SG & USE/ITEC registration
Please register for SG & USE/ITEC by scanning your student ID at the venue prior to the start of the program.
More information about SG & USE/ITEC can be found here.