Quantum engineering

Colloidal quantum dots irradiated with a UV light. Different sized quantum dots emit different colour light due to quantum confinement.

Quantum engineering is the development of technology that capitalizes on the laws of quantum mechanics. Quantum engineering uses quantum mechanics as a toolbox for the development of quantum technologies, such as quantum sensors or quantum computers.

Many devices that people utilize rely on quantum mechanical effects and have revolutionized the society through medicine, optical communication, high-speed internet, and high-performance computing, just to mention a few examples. After the technological advances that brought us lasers, MRI imagers and transistors, a second wave of quantum technologies is expected to impact society in a similar way. These new technologies are expected to make use of quantum coherence, relying upon the progress achieved in the last century in understanding and controlling atomic-scale systems. Quantum mechanical effects are used as a resource in novel technologies with far-reaching applications, including quantum sensors[1][2] and novel imaging techniques,[3] secure communication (quantum internet)[4][5][6] and quantum computing.[7][8][9][10][11]

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