What do physics and technology have in common?

What do physics and technology have in common? Nobel Prize winner Professor Serge Haroche will this morning give a unique insight into the strange world of quantum physics and how its applications can revolutionise technology and, by extension, our lives in the future.

In a talk open to the general public, Prof Haroche will speak about how research in quantum physics will open the way to new technologies that can exploit the strange logic of the quantum world to build more powerful and faster computers, create better satellite-based navigation or more sensitive systems for predicting earthquakes.

The real-world applications of quantum physics can be seen today in lasers, energy harvesters which convert heat into electricity, ultra-precise clocks for calculating trajectories of spacecraft and unbreakable cryptography.

Potential applications
Projecting into the future, quantum physics has potential applications only previously seen in science fiction, such as instantaneous communication and teleportation.

"The technology that will shape the lives of future generations will be based on the knowledge gained from research carried out by leaders such as Prof Haroche," Magnet Broadband chief executive Mark Kellett said.

Prof Haroche's lecture, Shedding New Light on Schrodinger's Cat, will take place in DCU at 11am. The lecture will also be streamed live on The Irish Times website.