Atomtronics, a field that focuses on finding ways to transfer whole atoms instead of electrons as in traditional electronic devices is still in its infancy, but has the ability to open a new direction of technological innovations
Most modern technologies owe their success to developments in electronics. These devices utilize the flow of electrons in various ways to create computers, charge batteries, illuminate screens and drive motors. Now scientists are beginning to explore ways to harness the flow of waves of whole atoms, called neutral matter waves, to enable a new kind of sensors, computers and scientific research.
This new field was named atomtronics, because of the focus on finding ways to move whole atoms instead of electrons as in traditional electronic devices. The field is still in its infancy, and scientists are struggling to identify the ideas that are practical for implementation today. That's why a team of researchers at the Technological Innovation Institute (TII) in the United Arab Emirates undertook an ambitious activity to catalog the current state of atomometric technology together with dozens of leading researchers around the world. The creation of a comprehensive overview and road map of the atomtronics is important because it gives a consistent picture of what works today and shows what challenges need to be addressed tomorrow.
Prof. Luigi Amico, Director General of Quantum Physics at TII, said: "It took decades to develop quantum theory into practical devices such as televisions, lasers and computers. We are now one step further, in the era of quantum technology, where we want to control aggregations of whole quantum particles. Atomtronics exploits the core principles of quantum technology to power devices with improved performance and to explore basic science."
Traditional electronics is based on drawing conductive circuits inside a chip. They are implemented in hardware, limited to the surface of the chip and sensitive to interference from electric fields and radio waves.
In contrast, atomtronic circuits can be easily created on the fly by guided laser beams and other techniques. Being an electrically neutral quantum liquid, atomtronic circuits can also be less sensitive to interfering electric fields. These properties could lead to more precise sensors, more powerful quantum computers and new tools for exploring the secrets of the universe.
The key features of the atomtronics roadmap developed are to appreciate the rapid progress in the field and show that collaboration and open information sharing are essential for success.
More of the topic in Hayadan:
