Faster Computers and Energy

Canberra’s Jolyon Bloomfield has discovered an enthusiasm for the quantum world in his study of physics and maths. “I think physics will drive breakthroughs in computing,” he says. “Increased computing power, better communications and enhanced security are going to happen because of quantum computing. That’s the area that I want to get into. It’s a young and exciting field with so much scope for research and development.” Quantum computers will use single atoms to store and process information. To quote Jolyon, “Quantum computers will use entangled quantum states to process information in a similar mechanism to the teleportation experiments performed at the ANU in 2002.” Yakov Kulik has a passion for theoretical physics – and believes his studies will find application in developing new energy sources.

Energy is a big issue facing Australia and the world. Yakov’s studies could help the design of better fuel cells – used in spacecraft and rockets – and in improving oil extraction. In the long term he hopes to use statistical mechanics to solve the greatest hurdle to fusion energy – containing the plasma of a thermonuclear reaction.

Azom