Physicists use quantum "time reversal" to measure vibrating atoms
The quantum vibrations in atoms hold a miniature world of information. If scientists can accurately measure these atomic oscillations, and how they evolve over time, they can hone the precision of atomic clocks and quantum sensors, which are atomic systems whose fluctuations can indicate the presence of dark matter, passing gravitational waves, or even phenomena. unexpected new. The main obstacle on the road to better quantum measurements is noise from the classical world, which can easily overwhelm the subtle vibrations of atoms, making any changes to those vibrations extremely difficult to detect. Now, MIT physicists have shown that they can significantly amplify quantum changes in atomic vibrations, by placing particles through two key processes: quantum entanglement and time reversal. Before you start shopping for DeLoreans, no, they haven’t figured out how to turn back time itself. Instead, physicists have manipulated quantum entangled atoms in such a way that the particles beha