Theoretical physicist Fiona Burnell,is a Professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy, and the inaugural Ed Tang Professor. When two sub-atomic particles such as electrons are brought close to each other, they can be put in a quantum entangled state. In this condition, a measurement on one electron will automatically alter the outcome of a measurement of the second electron – even if the two electrons are separated by several miles! Many large high-tech companies as well as universities are working to exploit particle entanglement to develop quantum computers. These computers will be able to solve various problems that would take conventional supercomputers many lifetimes to work out. From the development of new pharmaceuticals to the security of financial transactions over the internet, quantum computers, using a phenomenon that Albert Einstein dismissed as “spooky action at a distance,” have the potential to have a large impact on society.
