Quantum physics has lately been spotlighted in the news given its array of practical applications used daily across numerous fields. This branch of physics pertains to the behaviour and properties of matter’s smallest particles, such as atoms, electrons, photons, and quarks. It uncovers the astonishing ways these particles can behave, like being simultaneously present in two locations (superimposition), tunnelling through barriers, or getting entangled with each other over vast distances.
Quantum physics lays the groundwork of understanding how atoms and molecules form the base of all matter, and how electromagnetic waves, like light, are produced and interact with matter. Remarkably, our daily lives are influenced by quantum physics through electronics, computing, lasers, and optics. It empowers technologies like MRI for medical imaging and enhances renewable energy systems. Quantum cryptography guarantees secure communication, while materials science and nanotechnology thrive on quantum principles.
Delving into Fermi Energy
Fermi energy, named after Enrico Fermi, is defined as the energy of the highest occupied state of electrons in a material at absolute zero temperature (-273º C or 0K). It is consequential in determining electron velocity in conduction, as only electrons possessing energies near to the Fermi energy can engage in the conduction process.
Metals like copper, aluminum, and silver exhibit high Fermi energies, even at extremely low temperatures. The behavior of electrons, governed by quantum mechanics, along with the Fermi energy, account for various characteristics of metals, including their reflectivity, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity. The Fermi energy level measures the Fermi energy. Understanding this is vital for comprehending the basic behaviors and applications of metals used daily.
Significance of Fermi Energy in Quantum Physics
Fermi energy uncovers the wave nature and separate energy levels of electrons in matter. It is crucial in defining various physical properties of materials including electrical and thermal conductivity, heat capacity, magnetism, and superconductivity.
Besides, Fermi energy holds relevance in natural phenomena and technological applications like stars, nuclear reactions, lasers, transistors, and solar cells. Hence, the Fermi energy concept assists us in understanding why metals behave as they do, adding a new dimension to our comprehension of quantum physics.
Visible Light Communication (VLC)
VLC systems employ visible light for communication occupying the electromagnetic spectrum from 375 nm to 780 nm. Known as short-range optical wireless communication, technologies like Li-Fi, a type of VLC, have an approximate range of 10 meters and it cannot pass through walls or any solid object.
VLC facilitates faster data transmission compared to Bluetooth, providing high speed internet up to 10 Gb/s while Bluetooth 4.0 ensures speeds up to 25 Mb/s. The VLC has no electromagnetic interference, hence in areas sensitive to electromagnetic radiation, like aircrafts, VLC can be an ideal solution.
Introduction to Qubits and Quantum Computing
The term ‘qubit’ is often mentioned in the context of Quantum Computing. Quantum computers compute in ‘qubits’ (or quantum bits). They harness the properties of quantum mechanics, the science that oversees how matter behaves on the atomic scale. This makes quantum computing a revolutionary field with potential implications for various sectors like encryption, drug discovery and logistics.
