Physicists discover the 'Kings and Queens of Quantumness'

[Judi Lynn]

By Adam Mann - Live Science Contributor 6 hours ago

Extreme quantum states.


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(Image: © Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library/Getty)

Is that light particle more like a ball careening through space, or more of a smeary mess that is everywhere at once?

The answer depends on whether the absurd laws of subatomic particles or the deterministic equations that govern larger objects hold more sway. Now, for the first time, physicists have found a way to mathematically define the degree of quantumness that anything — be it particle, atom, molecule or even a planet — exhibits. The result suggests a way to quantify quantumness and identify "the most quantum states" of a system, which the team calls the "Kings and Queens of Quantumness."

In addition to furthering our understanding of the universe, the work could find applications in quantum technologies such as gravitational wave detectors and ultra-precise measurement devices.

Heart of reality

At the subatomic heart of reality, the bizarre world of quantum mechanics reigns. Under these mind-bending rules, tiny subatomic particles such as electrons can be paired in strange superpositions of states — meaning that an electron can exist in multiple states at once — and their positions around an atom and even their momentums aren't fixed until they're observed. These teensy particles even have the ability to tunnel through seemingly insurmountable barriers.

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https://www.livescience.com/quantifying-quantumness.html