August 2023 Mechanical Engineering Blog
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August 15, 2023
New Superconducting Circuit Optomechanical Platform Could Advance Several Fields
New Superconducting Circuit Optomechanical Platform Could Advance Several Fields
Once deemed impossible, today scientists have discovered how to produce quantum phenomena in mechanical systems. Over the past decade scientists have been able to achieve quantum states in nanoscopic mechanical objects by coupling mechanical oscillators with light photons, thereby creating what are known as optomechanical systems. Through this method scientists were able to reduce light photons’ energy to its lowest level (close to the quantum limit) and “squeeze” them to further reduce their vibration to then be able to entangle them with each other. These advancements created new opportunities in compact storage in quantum computing, quantum sensing, fundamental tests of quantum gravity, and even in dark matter searching. However, scientists face an important obstacle in the efficient operation of optomechanical systems --high levels of decoherence. To tackle this issue scientists from the laboratory of Tobias J. Kippenberg at EPFL developed a superconducting circuit optomechanical platform that maintains large optomechanical coupling and demonstrates ultra-low quantum decoherence, resulting in high fidelity quantum control. This achievement will have a positive impact in fields such as quantum physics, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering to name a few. Learn more here.
August 31, 2023
Crystals Could Replace Lithium-ion Batteries According to New Study
Crystals Could Replace Lithium-ion Batteries According to New Study
New research from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at University of Colorado- Boulder suggests that gadgets and other devices could be powered by photomechanical crystals and lasers instead of lithium-ion batteries. The majority of modern consumer technology is powered by lithium-ion batteries which produce energy from chemical reactions, a byproduct of this being heat. Consequently, modern day devices require bulky batteries and thermal management systems that can counteract the generation of heat. However, according to this recent study there is a more efficient way of powering devices which involves photomechanical crystals and light. During their experiments researchers were able to convert light directly into mechanical work. They achieved this by embedding photomechanical crystals into a polymer resin. And as the crystals grew inside the polymer material they gained the ability to produce energy when exposed to light. When exposed to light the material was able to bend and lift objects and under the right conditions it could act as a mechanical actuator or motor. Researchers tested the light powered motor and found that a 0.02 mg strip of crystals was able to lift a 20 mg nylon ball, nearly 10,000 times the crystals’ collective mass. Learn more here.
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