​

I . Scientific research

​

In quantum physics “we are in the situation of sailors, who ended up in a far away country ... with a very strange language. The only option is to carefully feel how to find one´s way in the dark.” This could be an artists quote - but it´s not. The Nobel laureate in physics (1932) Werner Heisenberg, exploring the far away country of particles and waves, described his limitations with this sailor metaphor.

 

2. Sizes & dimensions

​

If you reach out for the Nobel Prize in quantum physics, you have to work with atoms and even smaller quanta and quarks. This world behaves strange, against our human logic and indeed we do not really “understand” the quantum universe. Human evolution did not equip us with senses for the atomic and subatomic environment. Elementary particles are invisible and don´t smell. The hydrogen atom performs on a stage of 10-10meters. Do we need to learn about dark matter or black holes?  Why should we care about photons and their wave-particle duality?

​

II . Quantum industry

​

Scientific challenges are ahead but it is notable that quantum physics increasingly became a matter of engineering. Quantum Tech Industry is still in an early stage but governments and private investors recognize the revolutionary technology.Investments are reasonable which means two things: Quantum applications are within sight, and the pace of development is strongly increasing.

More than 10.000 people world-wide, with a combined yearly budget far over $2 biln, are involved in quantum technology R&D. These figures are exponentially increasing with governmental funding, with start-ups and corporate business looking for new profit streams. The race is on for quantum computers, quantum communication and quantum simulation. Are we users, followers or objects for governments and market segments for business? Are we on the driving seat or flying blind in the dark?

​

III .  Applications

​

Quantum Computers are more than just supercomputers equipped with advanced processing power. They will be applied for complex computation producing quick decisions in real time applications – self drive cars, Internet of Things (IoT), military drones, financial trading within milliseconds. Imagine a global phonebook: A classical computer would search country after country followed by cities and then by single lines of names. A quantum computer will assess each line of this phonebook simultaneously and could present results within seconds. Quantum computers are faster – a billion times faster! And they work fundamentally different.

​

Quantum sensors will be utilized in material analysis, medical diagnosis or real time weather forecasts. Commercial investments are expected in underground mapping of natural resources. Currently engineers take years to optimize industrial applications like aircraft´s wings. The defense industry will develop materials for an advanced stealth technology. Satellite and submarine detection are on the military wish list. Gravity sensors will lead to a kind of “Gravitation Google Maps” to guide aircrafts and drones. Quantum simulation will change chemistry and biology research. This will lead to new pharmaceutical drug design. Quantum simulators will support biochemists to optimize drug applications against diseases.

Financial markets and portfolio performance rely on analyst´s assumptions and algorithms based on probabilities. Quantum computing identifies attractive portfolios and provides financial forecasting models. In the stock market theater quantum computers will support real time portfolio optimization. Quantum sensors and quantum simulation will work far beyond today´s digital computers and algorithms. Artificial intelligence (AI) will integrate the technology of wavy particles and granular waves. Quantum phenomena of superposition, entanglement and tunneling will pave the way to revolutionary new applications, that we have not even dreamed of yet. What are the objectives of governments and corporate business? Are we prepared for an informed opinion?

​

IV . Science–society gap
 

Future science will get even more complex. Quantum technology will lead to manifold challenges ahead.  Let me remind you that civil society had no idea where theories of relativity (Einstein) - and quantum physics (Niels Bohr, Heisenberg and not to forget Lise Meitner) – civil society had no idea, where scientific theories would finally lead us and right now it´s still a foggy road ahead. Already in the 20thcentury we ended up in a first revolutionary development of atomic bombs and nuclear power plants. The second quantum revolution is on the doorstep and still civil society has no globally agreed perspectives. Let´s take efforts to develop informed opinions to facilitate responsible decisions.  Quantum Travellers modestly intend to bridge the gap between science and society. We communicate technology with our visual, verbal and sonic narratives. We try to move complex science results into mainstream.

​

Our ancestors painted hunting scenes on cave walls and probably increased their survival rate. We all enjoyed the performance in this marvelous cave down there: You the participants, the artists, scientists, the producers, all entangled in the Ars Electronica Deep Space 8K, the 21stcentury cave.