Exploring the Quantum world

Siva Prasad
 Importance of the Topic
• Quantum Computers

• Quess Satellite - China

• Quantum Cryptography

• Quantum Dots

• Quantum Teleportation

• Nanotechnology
 Why Quantum Mechanics

• At a smaller scale, the classical mechanics fails

• Physics is fundamentally different at the quantum level

• Phenomena unthinkable in the normal world seems possible in the

quantum one
Classical Computers Vs Quantum Computers

• Exponentially faster

• Enhanced storage and Computational Capabilities

• Use Quantum Bits (Q-Bits) instead of Classical Bits (1 or 0)

Schrodinger’s Cat Problem
Similarly Electrons can be in State 1, 0 or a superposition of 1 and 0
 An interesting Example

• Take two coins and flip them and hide them in your hands

• You are allowed to see only on the two coins by opening your hands

• Now you have tell Whether the other coin which is till hidden has Heads to
Tails
First Quantum Computer announced by
D WAVE
 QUESS

• Quantum experiments at space scale

• Mission to facilitate quantum optics experiments over long distance that

will allow for quantum encryption and quantum teleportation

• Quantum encryption using entanglement hence very safe and impossible

to eavesdrop
 Quantum Encrytption

• Usually encryption is done using complex algorithms (Mathematics) but

Quantum encryption uses Quantum Physics to secure communication

• Entanglement and No cloning phenomena of quantum mechanics allow

for secured communication without any thrid party interference
 Nanotechnology

• Experiments and Science at the nano scale

• Laws of Physics are completely different at the nano level

• Quantum Mechanics help understand the phenomena at the nanoscale

 Quantum Dots

• Central theme of Nanotechnology

• Quantum dots are small semiconductor particles (Size in nanometers),

have unique electrical and Optical properties completely different from
that of larger objects

• Potentiel applications in Transistors, LEDs, medical imaging quantum

computation
 Graphene
• Graphene is a semi-metal with small overlap between the valence and the
conduction bands (zero bandgap material).

• It is an allotrope (form) of carbon consisting of a single layer of carbon

atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice.

• It is the basic structural element of many other allotropes of carbon, such

as graphite, diamond, charcoal, carbon nanotubes and fullerenes.

• Allotropy or allotropism is the property of some chemical elements to exist

in two or more different forms, in the same physical state, known as
allotropes of these elements.
Allotropes of Carbon
 Carbon nanotubes

• Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotropes of carbon with a cylindrical

nanostructure. These cylindrical carbon molecules have unusual
properties, which are valuable for nanotechnology, electronics, optics and
other fields of materials science and technology.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES OF CARBON NANO TUBES
(CNT)

• Strength: Carbon Nano Tubes are the strongest and stiffest material on
earth in terms of tensile strength. They are 100 times stronger yet 6 times
lighter than the steel.

• Electrical Properties: Carbon NT can carry 1000 times more electric

current than on equivalent copper and silver wire and they are regarded as
ideal component for electric circuit.


• Thermal Property: Carbon NT are very good thermal conductor along the
tube while good insulator laterally to the tube.
 Nano composites

• They are materials created by introducing or adding Nano particles or

Carbon Nano Tubes (CNT) into the matrix of microscopic sample material
and the resulting Nano composite may exhibit drastically enhanced
property.
 Application of Nanotechnology

• IT and Electronics –  NT can be used to make tiny transistors for

developing Nano circuits. This will lead to further miniaturisation of
computer making them even more faster and compact the use of CNT will
strongly increase the data storage density of hard disk.

Replacing cathode ray tube by carbon NT will lead to production of display

with low energy consumption.
 Application of Nano Tubes (NT)
• Heavy Industry: Lighter and Stronger carbon NT (CNT) are of immence use to
aircraft manufacturer leading to increase performance.

• Automobile: NT will help in manufacturing stronger yet lighter, anti scratch

and rust proof automobile component.

Textile Industry:

• Nano fibers make cloth water and stain repellant and wrinkle fee.

• Nano fibers will be stronger than the strongest natural spider silk fibers.

• It can be used to make strong bullet proof jacket

 NT in health and medicine
• Applications of nanotechnology has led to a new branch of medicine known as Nano
Medicine. It helps in diagnosis of disease, drug delivery and treatment .

• Nano technology can be used in the formation of Nano size drugs which will help in
lowering overall drug consumption and side effects by depositing active agent at specific
places in the body thereby ensuring dry delivery with cell precision. [Drug delivery]

• NT can locate and then eliminate cancer cells using “Gold Nano Shell”. Nano shell
targets to bind to cancerous cells by conjugating antibodies to Nano shell surface by
irradiating the area of tumour with an infrared laser which passes through the flesh
without heating. But the Gold Nano shell is heated significantly to cause death of cancer
cell.

• NT can help to repair damage tissue through tissue engineering thus making healing
faster.
 NT in health and medicine

• Nano Robotics: It is a technique of creating machines or robots at or

close to Nano scale level. Their Nano size robots can navigate the human
body, transport important molecules, manipulate microscopic objects and
communicate with physician by way of miniature sensors. These
computer controlled Nano robots can be used in cancer treatment and
detection. Therapy as Radiation Therapy and Chemo Therapy, often end
up destroying more healthy cells than cancerous one, hence Nano
robotics could be more effective
Applications of NT in environment
• Nano filtration under NT can be helpful in waste water treatment,
producing safe and clean drinking water. The extremely small size of pores
enables filtration of bacteria, protozoa and other infectious agents.

• Nano particles of iron oxide are extremely effective & binding & removing
arsenic from ground water.


• Lanthanum Nano Particle absorbs phosphate from aqueous environment.

Applying these in ponds effectively removes available phosphates and as
a result prevents the growth of algae. This will benefit commercial fish
ponds which spend huge amount of money to remove algae.
 Applications in space

• CNT can be used in making cost effective Nano satellites. Space craft due
to use of lighten CNT becomes fuel efficient & size of equipment is
reduced effectively than the existing one & thus enabling increased
activity
 Negative aspects
• Environmental Issues : NT may lead to Nano pollution which includes all the waste generated
by manufacturing of Nano materials & the Nano devices. Due to its extremely small size Nano
waste can float in the air & might easily penetrate animal & plant cells causing undesirable
effect.

• Health Issues: Nano particles being slowly degradable may accumulate inside the body &
because of their large surface area may get adsorbed on to the surface of tissues & fluids which
may affect regulatory mechanism enzymes & other proteins.


• Societal Issues/Nano Ethics: NT can exacerbates (worsen) the division of rich & poor by
creating Nano divide. NT has the potential to destabilize the international relations through Nano
arms race as there is possibility of military applications of NT in biological & chemical warfare.


• Gray Goo : It is the specific risk associated with the speculative vision of molecular NT such as
the destruction can be caused by nanorobots or self replicating nanorobots.
 NANO MISSION

• In 2007, a mission on NS & NT (Nano Mission) has been approved by GOI

which aims at making India a world class centre for NT. The Govt.
sanctioned a sum of Rs. 1000/- crore for a period of 5 years for the
mission. The Dept. of Science & Technology is the nodal agency for
implementing the mission. 
 Objectives of Nano mission

• The Nano Mission is an umbrella programme for capacity building which

envisages the overall development of this field of research in the country
and to tap some of its applied potential for nation’s development.

• The objectives include basic research promotion, infrastructure

development for nano science and technology, Human Resource
development & International collaboration