Discovering Quantum: Quantum Open House 2024 at Purdue
On November 23, 2024, the Purdue Department of Physics and Astronomy hosted its annual Quantum Open House, welcoming students, educators, and community members for an immersive experience into the fascinating world of quantum science. The event featured engaging demonstrations, lab tours, and interactive talks by leading faculty and researchers, offering attendees an opportunity to witness cutting-edge advancements firsthand.
This year, Professor Lucy Flesch, Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science and Professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, & Planetary Sciences, joined us to deliver an inspiring opening remark. Her speech underscored the potential impact of quantum science and technologies in critical areas such as climate modeling, drug discovery, and artificial intelligence, and Purdue’s commitment to advancing quantum research and education.
"At Purdue, we are excited to be at the forefront of this quantum revolution. We have hired outstanding faculty members and continue to invest in research and education in this transformative field. We also have dedicated and passionate students, many of whom are here today as volunteers, eager to share their enthusiasm for quantum science." - Professor Lucy Flesch, Dean of College of Science.
"The Quantum Open House is a fantastic opportunity for Purdue faculty to showcase their research, engage with the community, and inspire the next generation of scientists. Events like this help bridge the gap between cutting-edge quantum science and the public, fostering curiosity and enthusiasm for the field." says Dr. David Sederberg, Purdue Physics and Astronomy Outreach Coordinator.
Alex Ruichao Ma, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, faculty organizer of this year’s event, added: "Our goal is to make quantum science accessible to everyone, regardless of their background. We hope the Quantum Open House experience sparks curiosity and inspires more people to explore the exciting opportunities emerging in quantum science and technology."
Engaging Attendees, Inspiring Minds
"I loved the Open House! The hands-on activities were fantastic, but the lab tours gave me a whole new perspective on real quantum research. I use the liquid nitrogen superconductor demo in my AP Chemistry classes, but hearing a physics explanation deepened my understanding immensely. I’ll be back next year and will encourage others to come!" said an enthusiastic attendee who is a high school teacher.
The event provided attendees with the opportunity to see and hear about cutting-edge quantum research in person, to get hand-on experience with fascinating quantum phenomena, and interact with Purdue students and faculty in small group settings. Participants left with a greater appreciation for quantum science and its potential to revolutionize technology.
A Day of Quantum Discovery
Throughout the day, visitors explored a range of quantum phenomena through hands-on activities and guided tours of Purdue’s state-of-the-art research labs. Highlights included:
• Exploring the Quantum World through Spectroscopy by Prof. Hadiseh Alaeian. The team unveiled the intricate interplay between atoms and light, showcasing how this interaction serves as an exclusive cipher for delving into the secrets of atomic understanding.
• Exploring quantum with Ultracold Atoms by Prof. Chen-Lung Hung. Guests learned how the team tames single atoms with lasers, to temperatures a billionth of a degree above absolute zero to understand fundamental physics and applications in quantum science.
• Quantum Sensing Lab by Prof. Tongcang Li. Guests learn how imperfections in ultrathin materials can be used as extremely precise sensors of ions and molecules in liquids for bio applications.
• Quantum Eraser Demo: Guests experienced a double slit experiment and follow-up 'eraser' experiment using a laser pointer and a few thin film polarizers in this demo ran by the group of Prof. Grace Qiyu Liang.
• Quantum Computers by Prof. Alex Ruichao Ma. Guests learned about the future of computing and were able to see a quantum processing unit created at Purdue University. They learned how the lab operates a quantum computer at super-cold temperatures.
• Making Quantum Molecular Movies with Ultrafast Lasers by Prof. Niranjan Shivaram. Guests learned how the team makes movies of electrons in molecules using ultrafast lasers, creating plasma in air by giving electrons the ability to "tunnel through walls" and escape from molecules.
• Quantum Entanglement by Prof. Jukka Vayrynen. Guests were invited to explore the concepts of randomness and quantum entanglement with electronic "quantum coins.”
• The World’s Thinnest Quantum Materials by Professor Tiancong Zhu. Guests learn to create graphene, a Nobel Prize winning material with many important applications.
• Quantum Games by Prof. Valentin Walther: Play by the rules of quantum mechanics! The principles of quantum mechanics revealed themselves only at small scales and low temperatures. Guests were able to try their hands at computer games that allowed them to delve into a world governed by quantum mechanics.
• Superconducting levitation: Guests explored the gravity-defying quantum levitation and quantum locking in this hands-on activity. This activity was run by members of the Nanotechnology Student Advisory Council and the Quantum Student Organization.
• Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream! We capped off the event with a tasty demonstration of quantum physics.
Looking Ahead
For those who missed this year’s event, the Quantum Open House will return in 2025 with even more exciting demonstrations and research insights. Please check out the Quantum Open House website here. As Purdue continues to push the frontiers of quantum research and education, we welcome all curious minds to explore this rapidly evolving field together.
Check out photos from Quantum Open House
The 2024 Quantum Open House was made possible through the support of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and the dedicated efforts of faculty, students, and volunteers.
Photos by Brian Powell, Jonathan Sullivan-Wood, Alex Ma, and David Sederberg.