11 November 2014

Profs. Oliver Morsch and Immanuel Bloch have published an article for the general reader in the SdW, Nov. 2014 issue on 'Simulated Quantum Worlds'. Today's computers cannot calculate exactly the dynamics and properties of many quantum particles. These systems are highly important to understand timely problems in solid-state physics, nanoscience, and super conducting devices. However, researchers are nowadays able to build systems of many quantum particles in highly controllable set-ups, therefore being able to analyze, control and accurately measure their properties. With these so-called ‘quantum simulators’, the physics of what happens in otherwise hardly observable processes is unveiled, and even more, new and yet unknown materials can be designed.