Quantum Technologies – Origins and Applications

The exploration of the physics of the microcosm (the quantum world) is rooted in experimental discoveries (e.g., Kirchhoff and Bunsen, Roentgen, Zeeman, Stern-Gerlach, etc.) as well as theoretically derived models and hypotheses (e.g., Planck, Bohr, Sommerfeld and Debye, Landé, Heisenberg, Schrödinger, Dirac, etc.). However, the history of quantum physics is often primarily attributed to theoretical advancements. This workshop aims to demonstrate, using selected topics, how fundamentally important experimental observation has been and how it has led to the development of technologies over subsequent decades that have profoundly transformed human life. 

A retrospective look at the history of physics will illustrate how a physical experiment, driven by the curiosity of the experimenter, led to a discovery that marked the beginning of a new quantum technology. These discoverers were typically "lateral thinkers" who sought to prove or disprove hypotheses. In rare cases, serendipitous discoveries were made, the validity of which had to be substantiated and proven thereafter. 

The topics to be discussed will start with the historical experiments, describe the development of the associated technologies, and provide examples of their modern applications. 

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