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Boltzman Oscillation
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Are there any projects I can build? What are the applications of QM in electrical engineering?
Boltzman Oscillation said:Are there any projects I can build? What are the applications of QM in electrical engineering?
Qurks said:Not really, not unless you're developing semiconductor devices. No one really uses QM when doing IC design. So in principle to understand why devices work QM is interesting but unless you're doing R&D, it doesn't matter. I actually talked to a guy leading IC development of a major company and he said they don't even touch QM, they purely use the standard device models.
analogdesign said:I get what you're saying, but I think you're setting a pretty high bar. If what you mean by "use QM" means sit at a desk and solve Schrodinger's equation or run QCD simulations, then yes, I would say that IC designers don't use QM.
On the other hand, we deal with a lot of very QM effects (such as gate tunneling). We have simplified models to deal with them, but that doesn't change the fact that the devices act in a QM way.
If the bar for working with QM is actually solving QM equations, then even most High-Energy Physicists don't use QM!
ZapperZ said:The problem here is the vague meaning of "applying" what one learns in QM. Does using a solid-state transistor qualify as "applying" QM?
One doesn't need to know QM to make use of the fact that semiconductors have band gaps, even though the concept of "band gaps" came directly out of solid state physics's application of QM to the semiconductor band structure. You also don't need to know about tunneling phenomenon to make use of a tunnel diode, but the device clearly make use of a quantum mechanical phenomenon. Heterodyne mixer? Same thing.
I would even say that if you get a bunch of LEDs of different colors, you can even perform an experiment easily where you end up getting Planck's constant directly!
Zz.
Qurks said:Actually, it's an interesting question - out of the physics that exists, what percentage is actually used? In particular, what aspects of the theory actually come into play when it comes to making useable things?
I suspect at best the highly theoretical subjects provide some idea why something works but separate models(maybe even based upon experiment) are created to actually describe things. The bandgap example is perfect.
QM is cool but how much application it has in its raw form? IDK, QED and QFT seem even more useless.
ZapperZ said:...the device clearly make use of a quantum mechanical phenomenon. Heterodyne mixer? Same thing.
Zz.
analogdesign said:Great post, but I'm curious. How is heterodyne mixing a quantum phenomenon?
ZapperZ said:This is an example:
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/1060994/
SIS tunnel junction is a clear quantum tunneling phenomenon. Brian Josephson won the Nobel prize for that discovery.
Zz.
Yes, quantum mechanics can be applied to understand the behavior of electrons in electronic devices, which is a key component of electrical engineering.
Quantum mechanics can be used to develop new technologies and devices, such as quantum computers, that have the potential to greatly improve electrical engineering processes and capabilities.
Some key concepts from quantum mechanics that are relevant to electrical engineering include wave-particle duality, superposition, and entanglement.
While a basic understanding of quantum mechanics is helpful for understanding certain aspects of electrical engineering, it is not necessary for all aspects of the field. Many electrical engineers do not have a formal background in quantum mechanics.
Yes, quantum mechanics can provide insights into the behavior of electrons in electronic devices, allowing for more efficient and effective problem-solving in electrical engineering.