Clear as Quantum

Kirk McKenzie talks about quantum "noise" and some of the most impressively precise measurements ever made.

Show Notes

Kirk McKenzie talks about quantum "noise" and some of the most impressively precise measurements ever made.

Kirk brings quantum precision to some of the biggest questions about our planet and universe. He works on laser instruments that have to face up to (and "squeeze") the fluctuations of quantum noise in order to detect gravitational waves - tiny movements of a mirror by a billionth of a millionth of a millimetre! Similar instruments are now in space to measure droughts, floods, and melting polar ice caps (all from low-earth orbit). We are blown away by both the giant size of these experiments and the the minuscule movements they can measure, and Kirk talks about giant speaker horns and hungry Nobel laureates.

Did quantum take you to space, or space lead you to quantum? In either case, subscribe and share with your friends. We'd love to hear your quantum questions - send them to engage@equs.org and we'll try to answer them in future episodes!

What is Clear as Quantum?

Clear as Quantum is an EQUS podcast about quantum science and the exciting technologies that are getting ready to unleash a quantum revolution. In this “spooky podcast at a distance” we’ll try to dust the cobwebs out of the quantum physics realm that's entangling our lives. Over the course of 10 episodes you’ll hear from some of Australia’s leading quantum scientists, and learn things worth knowing about.