Scientists at the University of Maryland have successfully demonstrated the control of the nuclear spin of a hydrogen molecule (H2) using dry ice. This simple ability to control the quantum state of a material could unlock multiple applications, ranging from measuring comet temperatures in outer space to new approaches to quantum computing on Earth.
Quantum applications are the next frontier of technology, enabling scientists to harness the ‘spooky behavior’ of materials to perform complex calculations and measurements that were previously impossible. However, to achieve this, scientists have relied on ultra-low temperatures near absolute zero. While this is expensive, it also limits the potential number of applications that can be attained outside the laboratory.
Chemical physicists at the University of Maryland have now unlocked quantum state control using nothing but dry ice. Made by cooling carbon dioxide at standard atmospheric pressure and relatively higher temperatures of -109 Fahrenheit (-75 degrees Celsius), dry ice is widely available and can be sourced cheaply.
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