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The author of Skulls in the Stars is a professor of physics, specializing in optical science, at UNC Charlotte. The blog covers topics in physics and optics, the history of science, classic pulp fantasy and horror fiction, and the surprising intersections between these areas. -
Category Archives: quantum
Musings about the “many worlds” quantum hypothesis
Though my work is primarily in classical wave optics, I maintain an avid interest in quantum physics (see my posts here and here for example) and especially all the weird implications of it, including the various attempts to make the … Continue reading
1975: The year that quantum mechanics met gravity (from the archives)
Another post from the archives while I work on new stuff!
Posted in History of science, Physics, quantum
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What is a quantum eraser?
My training and background as a physicist is largely in the field of so-called classical optics: the study of the wave properties of light. Lately, however, I’ve been planning more investigations into quantum optics — the study of the quantum … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Physics, quantum
Tagged philosophy, Physics, quantum-mechanics, quantum-physics, science
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An introduction to quantum cryptography
I’ve been brushing up on my quantum physics and quantum information science lately, and thought it would be good practice for me to give a little introduction to the idea of quantum cryptography, and one of the first strategies proposed … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Physics, quantum
Tagged Physics, quantum, quantum-mechanics, science
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Hanbury Brown and Twiss and their impossible interferometer (1956)
Update: fixed a mistake in my numbers for telescope resolution, which I had worse by a factor of 10. Science is in general intended to be a serious business, but every once in a while one comes across some serious … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Optics, Physics, quantum
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What is quantum entanglement? Part 7: What does it all mean?
This is part 7 in a lengthy series of posts attempting to explain the idea of quantum entanglement to a non-physics audience. Part 1 can be read here, Part 2 can be read here, Part 3 here, Part 4 here, Part 5 here, and Part … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics, quantum
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Quantum jumps: The Franck-Hertz experiment (1914)
The early years of quantum physics, from Einstein’s explanation of the photoelectric effect in 1905 through the introduction of the Schrödinger equation in 1926, was a remarkable time for science and filled with novel ideas, speculations, and experiments. In the … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics, quantum
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Taylor sees the (feeble) light (1909)
Most people, even non-scientists, are aware these days of the notion that light acts sometimes like a wave, sometimes like a particle, depending on the circumstances. This wave-particle duality is a fundamental aspect of nature, applying to all elementary particles, … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Optics, Physics, quantum
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What is quantum entanglement? Part 6: Locality, reality, and John Bell
This is part 6 in a lengthy series of posts attempting to explain the idea of quantum entanglement to a non-physics audience. Part 1 can be read here, Part 2 can be read here, Part 3 here, Part 4 here, and Part 5 here. … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics, quantum
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What is quantum entanglement? Part 5: Making it happen
This is part 5 in a lengthy series of posts attempting to explain the idea of quantum entanglement to a non-physics audience. Part 1 can be read here, Part 2 can be read here, Part 3 here, and Part 4 here. So … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Physics, quantum
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