Cosmos
Cosmos is a quarterly science magazine. We aim to inspire curiosity in ‘The Science of Everything’ and make the world of science accessible to everyone.
By Cosmos
With every year that goes by, various revolutionary technologies in the worlds of quantum mechanics and nuclear fusion appear a step closer to reality.
2024 was no different. Several projects around the world which might change computing, energy, telecommunications and electronics made significant breakthroughs this year. Let’s review some highlights.
Quantum simulator for next-gen electronics
An obvious area of interest is the development of quantum computers. These machines are still a few years away from being useful.
In the meantime, physicists are looking at building quantum simulators which can help them understand the quantum chemistry of compounds that is too complex for even the most powerful supercomputers to simulate.
MIT researchers developed a 16-qubit device which they say can describe the chemistry of a range of materials and simulate how electrons in those materials behave in the presence of an electromagnetic field.
They say such research could help engineers develop new materials useful in next-generation electronics without having to first synthesise the materials.
Diamond fused to sapphire
It sounds like some super-expensive jewellery, but it might actually be the next big thing in quantum technology.
Diamond is a crystal of carbon atoms. It is inert, hard, and a great electrical insulator and heat conductor. It has many uses in quantum technologies. But it is also very hard to bond to other materials because it only grows on other diamond.
A new technique which slightly “loosens” the carbon atoms in the diamond has successfully led to diamond being bonded to sapphire, silicon, lithium and several other materials. This may open the way to diamond being used in even more applications.
Quantum sensing – on the atomic scale
Physicists have developed the first quantum sensor which can make measurements on the scale of atoms – tenths of a nanometre.
Quantum sensors use whacky quantum mechanics – such as the spin of subatomic particles or quantum entanglement – to make precise measurements.
In this case, researchers produced the world’s first quantum sensor which can measure electric and magnetic fields on the scale of atoms at the same time. Such precision is necessary to understand the properties of different materials at their most fundamental level.
New Zealand enters nuclear fusion effort
OpenStar technologies, a New Zealand-based company, has become the first the country’s history to turn on a fusion machine.
The device uses a unique approach to reproduce the process which generates energy in the core of stars. Nuclear fusion is a holy grail of modern physics as scientists look for alternative means of producing ever-increasing amounts of energy.
OpenStar is trying to build a levitated dipole, as opposed to the standard doughnut-shaped tokamak which most nuclear reactors use. It achieved its first plasma this year.
Spanish nuclear fusion reactor
Literally on the other side of the world is Spain (New Zealand and Spain are antipodes!) where another nuclear fusion experiment has taken a unique approach.
The SMART (SMall Aspect Ratio Tokamak) is being put together at the University of Seville. It is the only tokamak in the world with negative triangularity – referring to the shape of the plasma in the device.
Construction on SMART has begun.
Cosmos Magazine Issue 105, released December 2024, included more than 20 pages of fascinating quantum content…buy a single copy or subscribe for a full year here.
