What technologies based on quantum mechanics affect our daily lives?

[akhmeteli]

Spintronics? The question was: "What technologies based on quantum mechanics affect our daily lives?" Personally the only person I know who's life is being affected by Spintronics is my buddy who does research in the field at the university ;)

I may be mistaken, but I was under the impression that hard disks are typically based on one of spintronics effects - giant magnetoresonance.

 

[wukunlin]

laser is definitely the most popular quantum mechanical devices imo
(but then I study laser physics so there might be a bias...)

 

[Duplex]

Isn't the photoelectric effect a quantum effect?

Yes, and that means that Albert Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics, especially for his work in quantum mechanics.

According to the Committee:
The Nobel Prize in Physics 1921 was awarded to Albert Einstein "for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photo electric effect".