Readers question quantum mechanics and more
Pushing limits Stanford physicist Monika Schleier-Smith’s atom experiments could be a boon to quantum computing and possibly offer insights into black holes, Elizabeth Quill reported in “Monika Schleier-Smith leads elaborate quantum conversations” (SN: 10/12/19 & 10/26/19, p. 37). Reader Ray Bryan asked if these experiments could shed light on how to unite quantum mechanics and gravity. The answer right now is “maybe,” Quill says. “Some theoretical physicists are excited about Schleier-Smith’s quantum systems because of the parallels between the behavior of these systems and the behavior of black holes,” Quill says. Black holes are a great place to probe the limits of general relativity, Einstein’s theory of gravity. “Studying parallels between black holes and quantum systems, as well as any emergent phenomena from Schleier-Smith’s systems, might lead to new insights or new directions to explore. But what those insights or directions might be is still hazy,” Quill says. Schleier-Smith told Quill that she is not the right person to directly tackle the...