66
PHYSICS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE
gantic atom. In principle, bizarre quantum effects that we see only at
the atomic level can be seen with the naked eye with a BEC. This was
once thought to be impossible.
The immediate practical application of BECs is to create "atomic
lasers." Lasers, of course, are based on coherent beams of photons vibrating in unison. But a BEC is a collection of atoms vibrating in unison, so it's possible to create beams of BEC atoms that are all coherent.
In other words, a BEC can create the counterpart of the laser, the
atomic laser or matter laser, which is made of BEC atoms. The commercial applications of lasers are enormous, and the commercial applications of atomic lasers could also be just as profound. But because
BECs exist only at temperatures hovering just above absolute zero,
progress in this field will be slow, albeit steady.
Given the progress we have made, when might we be able to teleport ourselves? Physicists hope to teleport complex molecules in the
coming years. After that perhaps a DNA molecule or even a virus may
be teleported within decades. There is nothing in principle to prevent
teleporting an actual person, just as in the science fiction movies, but
the technical problems facing such a feat are truly staggering. It takes
some of the finest physics laboratories in the world just to create coherence between tiny photons of light and individual atoms. Creating
quantum coherence involving truly macroscopic objects, such as a
person, is out of the question for a long time to come. In fact, it will
likely take many centuries, or longer, before everyday objects could be
teleported-if it's possible at all.
QUANTUM
COMPUTERS
Ultimately, the fate of quantum teleportation is intimately linked to the
fate of the development of quantum computers. Both use the same
quantum physics and the same technology, so there is intense crossfertilization between these two fields. Quantum computers may one
day replace the familiar digital computer sitting on our desks. In fact,
PHYSICS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE
gantic atom. In principle, bizarre quantum effects that we see only at
the atomic level can be seen with the naked eye with a BEC. This was
once thought to be impossible.
The immediate practical application of BECs is to create "atomic
lasers." Lasers, of course, are based on coherent beams of photons vibrating in unison. But a BEC is a collection of atoms vibrating in unison, so it's possible to create beams of BEC atoms that are all coherent.
In other words, a BEC can create the counterpart of the laser, the
atomic laser or matter laser, which is made of BEC atoms. The commercial applications of lasers are enormous, and the commercial applications of atomic lasers could also be just as profound. But because
BECs exist only at temperatures hovering just above absolute zero,
progress in this field will be slow, albeit steady.
Given the progress we have made, when might we be able to teleport ourselves? Physicists hope to teleport complex molecules in the
coming years. After that perhaps a DNA molecule or even a virus may
be teleported within decades. There is nothing in principle to prevent
teleporting an actual person, just as in the science fiction movies, but
the technical problems facing such a feat are truly staggering. It takes
some of the finest physics laboratories in the world just to create coherence between tiny photons of light and individual atoms. Creating
quantum coherence involving truly macroscopic objects, such as a
person, is out of the question for a long time to come. In fact, it will
likely take many centuries, or longer, before everyday objects could be
teleported-if it's possible at all.
QUANTUM
COMPUTERS
Ultimately, the fate of quantum teleportation is intimately linked to the
fate of the development of quantum computers. Both use the same
quantum physics and the same technology, so there is intense crossfertilization between these two fields. Quantum computers may one
day replace the familiar digital computer sitting on our desks. In fact,