When I woke up this morning I was wondering whether the ancient granite boxes at the Serapeum of Saqqara in Egypt, were designed to be Hermetically sealed.
So, that was my 1st Q. to Google AI today.
The boxes were found in corridors at a depth of approximately 17 meters (56 feet) below the surface of the Saqqara plateau, in a vast underground complex with tunnels extending up to 400 meters (1,312 feet) long and rooms that are 9 to 11 meters (29.5 to 36 feet) long.
Each box was cut out of a massive single piece of granite, and weighs between 60 to 100 tons, with individual sarcophagi weighing approximately 70 tons and lids around 30 tons.
The high precision, the lack of visible tool marks, and the absence of obvious machinery to move such heavy objects contribute to the enduring mystery of their construction.
The boxes fit precisely into the chambers, with the corridors providing just enough clearance for their transport and placement. The extreme fit of the 80-100 ton boxes within the confined spaces is considered one of the many mysteries of the Serapeum.
The limited space between the boxes and the tunnel walls presents a puzzle, as it’s unclear how such massive objects could have been brought through these confined passages.
Although the Serapeum is believed to have been intended for the burial of sacred Apis bulls, the massive granite sarcophagi that were supposed to contain them were discovered to be completely empty.
Sacred Apis bulls were considered earthly incarnations of the Egyptian god Ptah, and after death, they were believed to become Osiris-Apis.
So, if the remains of sacred Apis bulls had been placed by priests inside these boxes before the lids were hemetically sealed, then why was nothing found? i.e. were did the mumified remains – including of course the skeletons of these sacred animals go?
Note that in reply to Q. 6, AI stated – ‘The
precision of the boxes and tunnels suggests construction by a sophisticated,
possibly non-Egyptian, culture, with the site being modified and
reused by later Dynastic Egyptians.’
So, it appears that the granite boxes and
tunnels were not conceived of, designed and built by the Ancient Egyptians, but
by an earlier lost and forgotten civilization far back in antiquity, i.e. in
pre-history, whose existence and historical memory may have been almost
completely obliterated by e.g. a natural calamity, such as climate
change/floods.
If that is correct, then the Serapeum at
Saqqara is a surviving legacy to mankind of the achievements of their highly
advanced civilization.
In which case, logically, unless that lost
civilization revered Apis Bulls as sacred animals, the Granite Boxes of the
Serapeum could not have been built in order to contain the mummified remains of
scared bulls.
So, what purpose were the boxes precision
engineered to serve?
AI replied –
‘Yes, the massive granite boxes, or Cyclopean Sarcophagi, at the
Serapeum of Saqqara were designed with extreme precision, achieving a
tolerance of just one micron, which ensured that their lids created a hermetic
or airtight seal. This level of craftsmanship, rivaling modern machining,
was used to create a sealed environment, though the precise function of this
sealed environment remains a subject of mystery and debate among historians and
archaeologists.
Details of the
Sarcophagi
The sarcophagi are
massive, weighing approximately 50 tons without the lids, which add another 30
tons.
The extreme accuracy of
their construction, down to one micron, allowed for the lids to fit with
remarkable tightness.
They were carved from
granite, a hard stone, demonstrating an advanced level of engineering skill for
the ancient Egyptians.
The Purpose of the
Seal
- Airtight Interior: The
precision of the cuts ensured that no oxygen could escape or enter.
- Mystery of Function: While the precise
intention for this hermetic sealing is not fully understood, theories
suggest it could relate to maintaining pressure or creating a unique
storage environment for whatever was placed inside.
Lingering Questions
The methods used to
achieve such high precision with ancient tools remain a captivating mystery.
The purpose of the airtight seals is a subject of continued scholarly discussion, adding to the overall enigma of the Serapeum.’
My
2nd Q. – ‘What is the purpose of hermetic sealing?’
AI – ‘The primary purpose of
hermetic sealing is to create a completely airtight barrier that prevents
the ingress or egress of gases, liquids, and contaminants, thereby protecting
products and components from external factors like moisture, dust, and air. This
protection ensures product safety, enhances performance, and extends shelf life
in applications ranging from food packaging to advanced electronics and medical
devices.
Key purposes and
benefits
- Protection from the environment:
Hermetic seals protect
sensitive items from moisture, oxygen, dust, and other airborne contaminants
that can cause degradation, corrosion, or failure.
The seal prevents the
contents of a container (whether solid, liquid, or gas) from leaking out,
ensuring the integrity of the product or system.
For products like food,
hermetic packaging helps maintain freshness and prevents spoilage, reducing
waste and improving customer satisfaction.
- Improved performance and reliability:
In electronic and medical
devices, hermetic seals maintain the internal environment, ensuring that
sensitive components and circuits function reliably and safely.
- Safety in critical applications:
In healthcare and
aerospace, hermetic seals are crucial for preventing leaks of potentially
harmful substances or protecting critical equipment from harsh conditions like
temperature extremes and radiation.
- Preservation of internal environments:
The process can also
maintain specific internal conditions, such as the pressure or atmosphere,
within a sealed enclosure.
Common applications
Protecting sensitive
circuits, sensors, and power supplies from humidity, dust, and other
environmental factors.
Encapsulating implantable
devices and sensitive equipment to prevent contamination and ensure patient
safety.
Extending the shelf life
of packaged foods, from fresh produce to desserts, by preventing oxygen and
moisture from entering.
Shielding critical
components from extreme temperatures, vibrations, and the vacuum of space to
ensure system reliability.’
My
3rd Q. – ‘What is the origin of the phrase Hermetically Sealed?’
AI – ‘The phrase
“hermetically sealed” originates from the ancient practice of
alchemy and is named after Hermes Trismegistus, a legendary figure believed to
have invented the “secret seal” for making glass tubes airtight
during their experiments. Alchemists, inspired by the wisdom attributed
to Hermes Trismegistus, would heat and fuse the
necks of glass vessels to create an airtight seal, a process essential for
techniques like distillation and for preserving materials like the mythical
Philosopher’s Stone.
Origin and Connection
to Hermes
He was a legendary figure
combining the Greek god Hermes with the Egyptian god Thoth, and he was the
central figure in the tradition of Hermeticism.
Alchemists believed that
Hermes Trismegistus was a master of secret arts, including a method to create a
perfectly airtight seal using a special technique.
To perform their
experiments, such as changing matter from one form to another, alchemists
needed sealed containers. The process of sealing a vessel by fusing its
neck closed was a “secret seal” and was attributed to Hermes.
This technique was known
as the “Seal of Hermes” or “hermetic seal”.
Meaning of
“Hermetically Sealed”
- The term “hermetic” was applied
to this method of sealing in the early 17th century.
- “Hermetically sealed” then came
to mean “completely sealed” or “airtight,” referring
to the complete and perfect closure achieved through this method.
My
4th Q. – ‘Is it possible using sound waves and frequency
inside a hermetically sealed box to transform what is inside?’
AI – ‘Yes, sound waves in a
hermetically sealed box can transform the contents by transferring energy and
applying forces, allowing for manipulation of objects via acoustic levitation,
or even breaking apart molecular bonds at high enough frequencies. A well-sealed
box can both contain sound waves and protect what is inside from external
vibrations, but internal sound will still interact with and cause changes to
the objects and the air within it.
How Sound Transforms
Contents
Sound waves can be used to
generate standing waves that exert forces on objects, allowing them to be
suspended in the air without physical contact. This process can move and
manipulate small objects, even influencing the course of chemical reactions.
Sound waves are vibrations
that carry energy. While typically associated with pressure waves in a
fluid medium, intense or specific sound frequencies can deliver enough energy
to affect matter at a molecular level. High-frequency sound waves could
potentially cause molecules to vibrate with enough energy to break bonds.
Sound energy will
inevitably interact with the materials inside a sealed box. It will cause
the walls of the box and any objects within to vibrate, leading to energy
transfer from the sound to these objects and eventually into heat, according to Quora users.
Limitations and
Considerations
Even with a sealed box,
sound waves lose energy over time due to friction within the medium (like air)
and absorption by the walls.
The type and intensity of
transformation depend on the frequency and amplitude of the sound waves.
Complex sounds are made of
many frequencies, which can interfere with each other, and this interference
can also affect the sound waves and their impact within the box.’
My
5th Q. – ‘Can extremely high-frequency ultrasound cause
cavitation and damage, i.e. a physical disintegrating effect?’
AI – ‘Yes, extremely
high-frequency ultrasound, particularly at high intensities, can cause
cavitation and significant mechanical damage, such as a physical disintegrating
effect on tissues. The intense pressure of collapsing bubbles from
acoustic cavitation can generate powerful shockwaves, high-speed liquid jets,
and intense localized heating, all of which can physically shred tissues and
even cause molecular dissociation.
How Ultrasound Causes
Cavitation and Disintegration:
- Acoustic Cavitation:
High-intensity ultrasound
creates regions of high and low pressure in a liquid. In the low-pressure
(rarefaction) phases, dissolved gas can be drawn out of the solution, forming
bubbles.
These bubbles oscillate
and then violently collapse (implode) due to the high-pressure (compression)
phases of the sound wave.
The implosion of these
bubbles is a highly energetic event that produces several physical phenomena
capable of causing disintegration:
- Shockwaves: The
collapsing bubbles can generate powerful shockwaves with immense pressure,
which can fragment tissue.
- Liquid Jets: If
the bubble collapses near a surface or another bubble, high-speed liquid jets
can form, delivering powerful, localized impacts.
- Mechanical Trauma: The
combination of shockwaves, micro-jets, and turbulent flow around the collapsing
bubbles leads to significant mechanical trauma and a disintegrating effect on
the surrounding material.
Applications and
Effects:
- Therapeutic Applications:
This high-intensity
focused ultrasound (HIFU) technology is used to break up kidney stones
(lithotripsy) and fragment soft tissues in some medical therapies.
- Nanomaterial and Cell Manipulation:
The physical and chemical effects of cavitation are also used to create novel nanomaterials and to permeabilize cells for drug delivery and other biomedical applications.’
My 6th Q. – ‘Is there physical evidence that the superstructure of the Serapeum at Saqqara built around the granite boxes inside?’
AI – ‘No, physical evidence
does not support the theory of a superstructure built around the granite boxes
at the Serapeum of Saqqara; rather, the entire complex, including the
boxes and chambers, was carved directly from the bedrock as an underground structure. The
precision of the boxes and tunnels suggests construction by a sophisticated,
possibly non-Egyptian, culture, with the site being modified and reused by
later Dynastic Egyptians.
The Serapeum’s
Construction
The Serapeum is an
extensive underground complex, where the chambers were carved out of the rock
rather than built on the surface.
- Sophisticated Engineering:
The enormous granite boxes
and the complex tunnel system display a level of precision and engineering that
challenges conventional understanding of the period, according to Facebook posts and Reddit
threads.
The smooth surfaces and
precise 90-degree angles of the boxes suggest advanced carving and polishing
techniques, with no evidence of conventional methods like sleds or pulleys.
Evidence of Re-Use and
Modification
- Lack of Initial Construction
Evidence:
The construction of the
chambers and the placement of the boxes could not have been done with
conventional surface methods.
- Later Egyptian Modifications:
The complex shows evidence
of renovation and reuse during the Dynastic Egyptian period, indicating later
cultures modified an older, pre-existing structure.
Inscriptions found in some
areas date to the 26th Dynasty, centuries after the site’s earliest known use,
suggesting a later culture tried to explain or claim the older
structures, notes a Reddit post.
Conclusion
The physical evidence
points to the Serapeum as an ancient underground excavation site where the
boxes were carved directly into the rock. Any idea of a surface
superstructure built around these boxes is not supported by the archaeological
evidence.’
My 7th Q. – ‘Can particle movement in a body inside a hermetically sealed granite box be transformed using sound waves and frequency?’
AI – ‘Yes, sound waves and
frequency can transform particle movement within a hermetically sealed granite
box by inducing vibrations, creating forces, and manipulating objects, a
phenomenon known as acoustic manipulation or acoustic levitation. The sound energy,
passed through the granite and into the body, causes its constituent particles
to vibrate, and the frequency of these vibrations can be tailored to specific
purposes, such as moving particles, separating them, or even suspending them in
place.
How it works
- Sound as Vibration:
Sound is a wave of
vibrations that travel through a medium, causing its particles to vibrate.
- Transmission through
Solids:
Sound travels well through
solids, making the granite box a suitable medium for transmitting sound waves.
When sound waves reach a
body, they apply pressure and exert forces on its particles, causing them to
move.
Different frequencies of
sound have different effects. By controlling the frequency, you can:
- Induce Vibration: Cause
particles to vibrate, which is the fundamental way sound moves through matter.
- Create Standing Waves: High-frequency
(ultrasonic) sound can create standing waves with nodes where particles
accumulate or are suspended.
- Apply Directional Forces: Specially
shaped sound waves can push and pull particles along precise paths.
- Application in a Box:
A sound source outside the
sealed granite box can transmit sound waves through the granite into the body
inside. This sound would vibrate the body’s particles, enabling movement
and other manipulations.’
My 8th Q. – ‘Are scientists researching quantum teleportation and how sound can tunnel or transmit across a vacuum using piezoelectric crystals and their associated electric fields?’
AI – ‘Yes, scientists are
researching both quantum teleportation and the transmission of sound across a
vacuum using piezoelectric crystals, but these are two distinct
phenomena. Research has shown that sound can indeed “tunnel”
across a vacuum using piezoelectric crystals, where the sound wave’s vibrations
are converted to an electric field, travel through the vacuum, and then are
converted back to sound. Simultaneously, quantum teleportation is an
active area of research, involving the transfer of quantum information from one
location to another.
Quantum Teleportation
Quantum teleportation is
the process of transferring a quantum state from one location to another
without physically moving the particle itself.
It involves the
destruction of the original quantum state and the recreation of an identical
state at a new location using quantum entanglement.
Scientists are working to
make quantum teleportation more efficient and reliable, with applications
ranging from quantum computing to creating secure quantum communication
networks.
Sound Tunnelling
Through a Vacuum
This refers to the
phenomenon where a sound wave’s energy can be transmitted across a vacuum gap
between two piezoelectric materials.
- How it works:
- Piezoelectric effect: Sound
vibrations in a piezoelectric crystal create an electrical response.
- Electric field in vacuum: Since
an electric field can exist in a vacuum, this electrical response can propagate
across the vacuum gap.
- Conversion back to sound: At
the other piezoelectric crystal, the electric field is converted back into
mechanical vibrations, effectively creating the sound wave.
- Research focus:
This area of research
explores the potential for manipulating and transmitting acoustic waves and
vibrations without physical contact, with applications in
microelectromechanical components, smartphone technology, and heat control.’
My 9th Q. – ‘For scientists researching the teleportation process, in order to conduct an experiment in an environment that is isolated from noise and external disturbances could a granite box located deep underground be used?’
AI – ‘Yes, a deep
underground granite box could be a valuable component of an experiment to
isolate a quantum teleportation system from noise and external disturbances,
though the overall effectiveness depends on other factors. Placing the
experiment deep underground reduces noise from sources like electromagnetic
interference and seismic activity, and a granite enclosure would provide
further physical shielding. However, the primary challenges are the
inherent quantum noise from the environment itself, which can be addressed
through techniques like hybrid entanglement.
Benefits of a Deep
Underground Granite Enclosure
- Reduced Electromagnetic Interference:
Being deep underground
shields the experiment from external electromagnetic fields, a common source of
noise in quantum systems.
Underground locations
typically experience less seismic and mechanical vibration than surface
facilities, which can disturb quantum states.
A granite box offers a
dense, inert material to further contain and shield the sensitive quantum
equipment from external influences.
Limitations and Other
Considerations
Even in a well-shielded
environment, the qubits involved in quantum teleportation can be affected by
their own local environments and interactions, a phenomenon known as quantum
noise.
- Environmental Interaction:
The environment’s
interaction with the open quantum system can cause energy relaxation and
dephasing, which are detrimental to the quality of teleportation.
- Addressing Quantum Noise:
Researchers are developing
new methods to mitigate or even control this type of noise, such as using “multipartite hybrid entanglement” to
entangle qubits with their local environments in a controlled manner.
For the success of a
quantum teleportation experiment, the quality of the entangled resources, the
stability of the devices, and the precision of the measurement and control
systems are also crucial.’
My 10th Q. – ‘Can a significant quartz content inside a granite and diorite box make minerals piezoelectric, thereby converting mechanical stress into electricity?’
AI – ‘Yes, a granite or
diorite box with significant quartz content can become piezoelectric, allowing
its quartz crystals to convert mechanical stress into electricity. This
effect occurs because quartz is a piezoelectric mineral, and when a large
number of these grains are present, they can form a “piezoelectric
fabric” within the rock. Applying a dynamic mechanical stress, such
as vibration or pressure, causes the displaced charges within the quartz
crystals to generate a measurable electrical charge and voltage.
How it Works
- Piezoelectric
Minerals:
Quartz is a naturally
piezoelectric mineral, meaning it generates an electrical charge when subjected
to mechanical stress.
When quartz grains are
sufficiently abundant and suitably aligned within the granite or diorite, they
form a piezoelectric fabric throughout the rock.
Applying a dynamic force,
like vibration, pressure, or even seismic activity, to the quartz-rich rock
causes the crystal lattice of the quartz to deform.
This deformation leads to
the displacement of electric charges within the quartz crystals.
The displaced charges
create a net polarization and generate a voltage across the material, resulting
in an electrical discharge.
Factors Influencing
the Effect
A higher concentration of
quartz generally leads to a stronger piezoelectric effect.
A preferred orientation of
the piezoelectric grains, known as a piezoelectric fabric, can significantly
enhance the overall effect.
The stress must be dynamic
and changing to generate electricity.
While granite is known to
be piezoelectric due to its quartz content, rocks lacking free quartz, such as
marble or basalt, do not exhibit significant piezoelectric effects.
Potential Applications
- Energy Harvesting: Research is
ongoing to harness this property for energy generation.
- Geothermal Systems: Combining piezoelectric
and geothermal properties in stones could lead to new renewable energy
systems.
- Biomedical Engineering: Piezoelectric
materials are used in biomedical applications to promote tissue repair by
generating electrical signals in response to mechanical stress.’
My 11th Q. – ‘Are any of the boxes inside the Serapeum at Saqqara made of granite and diorite?’
AI – ‘Yes, many of the
massive boxes, which were used as sarcophagi for the Apis bulls, are made of
granite and some are made of diorite. These were some of the largest and
hardest stones available, quarried from remote locations like Aswan for the
granite.
Specifics about the
materials
Many of the sarcophagi are
made from Aswan granite, a very hard, durable stone.
Some of the boxes are also
made from diorite, a stone even harder than granite and quarried from even more
distant locations.
Significance of these
materials
The use of these
incredibly hard stones, quarried and transported over vast distances,
highlights the advanced engineering and monumental effort involved in the
Serapeum’s construction.
The sheer scale and precision of these monolithic structures, crafted from such difficult materials, continue to be a source of mystery and debate for Egyptologists and researchers.’
My 12th Q. – ‘Does any ancient text discuss
teleportation?
AI – ‘Yes, many ancient
texts, particularly within Hinduism, Buddhism, and the Abrahamic traditions,
describe instances of instant travel or teleportation as a supernatural ability
or a divine act, rather than a technological feat. In Hinduism, sages and deities
like Narada Muni are depicted as possessing the power of siddhi, or spiritual powers, allowing them
to traverse vast distances instantly. Similarly, Buddhist scriptures
mention abhijñā, or supernatural powers, including
teleportation. In the Abrahamic traditions, figures like Philip in the
Book of Acts are described as being miraculously “caught up” by the
Holy Spirit and transported to another location.
Hindu Texts
Ancient Indian texts, such
as the Upanishads, Vedas, and Puranas, describe yogis and rishis (sages)
who can achieve siddhis, which include the power to teleport
or travel through space and time.
Deities such as Narada
Muni are portrayed as celestial messengers capable of appearing anywhere in the
universe by their own willpower.
The foundational text of
yoga, the Yoga Sutras, describes techniques for developing such powers,
including the ability to “flow into any frequency” to travel to
different realms.
Buddhist Texts
In Buddhism, teleportation
is listed as one of the abhijñā, or supernatural powers, that enlightened
beings can attain through deep insight into the nature of reality.
Legends tell of the Buddha
possessing the ability to teleport, with one tale describing him appearing on
the other side of a raging river instantly.
Abrahamic Texts
Teleportation-like events
occur in biblical accounts as acts of divine intervention.
In the Book of Acts, the
prophet Philip is said to have been “caught up” by the Spirit and
transported from one place to another, appearing in a distant town to baptize
an Ethiopian official.
The prophet Elijah is
described as being “carried” by the Spirit of the Lord to an unknown
location.
In essence, while modern definitions of teleportation involve technology, these ancient texts describe it as a spiritual or divine ability, a manifestation of manipulating consciousness and reality beyond conventional physical limits.’
My 13th Q. – ‘What advances and breakthroughs have been achieved by scientists researching teleportation in the UK?’
AI – ‘UK scientists at the
University of Oxford achieved a major breakthrough in February 2025,
demonstrating the teleportation of a quantum logic gate between two
separate quantum processors, a world-first that links them into a single,
interconnected quantum computer. This advancement, which uses available
technology, is a significant step toward building scalable quantum computers
and a future quantum internet, rather than teleporting physical matter.
Key Breakthrough:
- Quantum Gate Teleportation:
The Oxford team
successfully “teleported” a fundamental two-qubit quantum gate across
a two-meter optical fiber, linking two distinct quantum computing modules.
- Creating a Distributed Quantum Computer:
This process effectively
merges the separate processors into one fully-connected quantum computer,
overcoming a major challenge in scaling quantum systems.
Significance and
Applications:
The ability to link
distant quantum processors addresses the critical need for scalability in
quantum computing, bringing large-scale practical applications closer to
reality.
This breakthrough lays the
groundwork for a future quantum internet, an ultra-secure network for secure
communication, advanced computation, and sophisticated sensing.
- Deterministic Interactions:
A crucial aspect of the
research is the ability to perform these interactions deterministically,
meaning they are highly reliable and less prone to failure, which is vital for
complex quantum computations.
How it Works:
The research builds on the
principles of quantum entanglement, the strange connection between particles
across vast distances.
It’s important to note
that this is not the teleportation of physical objects or people, but rather
the transmission of quantum information. The process involves transferring
the quantum state (the “information”) of a particle between physically
separated systems.
Context:
The Oxford team’s work is
the first demonstration of quantum teleportation of logical gates across a
network link.
The experiment was
conducted using technology that is already available, demonstrating that
network-distributed quantum information processing is feasible with current
tools.’
My 14th Q. – ‘What advances and breakthroughs have been achieved by scientists researching teleportation in Japan?’
AI – ‘Japanese scientists
have advanced quantum teleportation through work at Yokohama National
University, teleporting quantum information into a diamond’s lattice, and
by using microsatellites for quantum communication. Their breakthroughs
are crucial steps toward quantum networks and a future “quantum internet” for secure, powerful
computing and communications.
Quantum Information in
a Diamond
Researchers at Yokohama
National University successfully teleported quantum information into the
crystal structure of a diamond.
They focused on quantum
defects within the diamond’s lattice—vacancies where a nitrogen atom replaces a
carbon atom—and used a “hybrid technique” to transmit the quantum
information.
This achievement
demonstrated a way to transfer quantum information into an otherwise
inaccessible space and into a quantum memory without disturbing it, which is
vital for quantum information technology.
Quantum Communication
with Microsatellites
Japanese physicists were
the first to use a microsatellite for quantum communications.
This development suggests
that practical satellite-based quantum communications could become a reality,
potentially paving the way for space-based quantum networks.
Broader Impact
These advances are
considered key to building a future quantum internet that would connect quantum
computers and enable unprecedented communication security.
Teleportation plays a
vital role in distributing entanglement, which is essential for scaling up
quantum computers and performing complex calculations.
The ability to teleport
quantum states reliably contributes to the development of uncrackable security
protocols for information’.
My 16th Q. – ‘Can Teleportation be used to create a device in which to store information?’
AI – ‘Yes, quantum teleportation can be used to create and scale devices for information storage, particularly for building a distributed quantum computing network and a quantum internet. Instead of transmitting matter, quantum teleportation transfers quantum information using quantum entanglement and classical communication, enabling the connection of separate quantum processors to form larger, more powerful machines. How it works:
- Quantum Entanglement: Two particles become “entangled,” meaning they are linked and share the same state, no matter the distance between them.
- Information Transfer: A quantum message (a qubit) is entangled with one of the entangled particles.
- Classical Communication: A measurement is performed on the original message qubit and the entangled qubit.
- Reconstruction: The results of this measurement, which are classical bits (0s and 1s), are sent via a traditional channel to the location of the other entangled particle.
- Decoding: The receiving party uses these classical bits to perform an operation on their entangled qubit, effectively reconstructing the original quantum information at a distance.
Applications for information storage devices:
- Distributed Quantum Computing: Quantum teleportation allows scientists to “wire together” multiple, distant quantum processors. By pooling their capabilities, they can create larger, more powerful quantum computers that can solve problems neither could solve individually.
- Quantum Internet: This breakthrough is a fundamental step toward building a quantum internet, which would rely on teleportation to transmit quantum information reliably and securely over vast distances.
Important distinction:
- This is not the “teleportation” of science fiction, which involves moving matter. Instead, quantum teleportation is about moving quantum information from one place to another.’
My 17th Q. – ‘Can a quantum processor be used to reverse time in order to provide valuable insights into the fundamental nature of time and thermodynamics?’
AI – ‘Yes, a quantum processor can be used to
simulate or “reverse” the flow of time within a quantum system,
providing insights into time and thermodynamics by observing the temporary
decrease of quantum entropy and revealing potential
violations of the second law of thermodynamics under
controlled quantum conditions. This is not actual time travel but a
demonstration of quantum mechanical principles, allowing for experiments that
explore the nature of time symmetry and the direction of the arrow of time.
How it Works
- Preparing a Quantum
System:
Researchers begin by
preparing a quantum system, such as a set of qubits, in a known, ordered state.
- Evolution and
Scrambling:
The system is then allowed
to evolve, naturally becoming more disordered or “scrambled” over
time.
- Applying a
“Rewind” Algorithm:
A specially designed
quantum algorithm is then applied to the system. This algorithm acts like
a “rewind button,” effectively inverting the evolution of the qubits.
- Return to Previous
State:
The algorithm causes the
qubits to return to their original, ordered state, demonstrating a brief,
localized reversal of the system’s forward progression.
Insights into Time and
Thermodynamics
This process shows that
quantum systems can temporarily experience a decrease in entropy, which is a
temporary reversal of the natural increase of disorder that the second law of
thermodynamics usually dictates for macroscopic systems.
The experiments challenge
our intuitive understanding of the one-way direction of time, suggesting that
at the quantum scale, the rules might be more flexible and time-symmetric than
we typically experience.
- Thermodynamic Principles:
By observing these
temporal reversals, scientists can probe the fundamental principles governing
irreversibility and gain a deeper understanding of the processes that define
the forward flow of time.
Limitations
This is not human time
travel; it is a controlled experiment at the particle level.
The reversal happens
within an isolated quantum system but requires an external device to implement
the specific algorithm. The second law of thermodynamics still holds for
large-scale closed systems.’
My final Q. – ‘Are scientists developing hand held Quantum Processors?’
AI. – ‘Yes, scientists and
companies are developing what they call handheld or portable quantum computers,
though these are currently limited for educational purposes and use
simpler nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
technology. Projects like SpinQ’s Gemini Mini are examples of this,
making quantum computing more accessible for hands-on learning, while other
research aims to create much more powerful, large-scale quantum processors that
could eventually be much smaller, potentially fitting into a handheld device.
Current
“Handheld” Quantum Processors
This is a 2-qubit portable
quantum computer that uses NMR to function without complex, expensive cryogenic
systems.
These devices are designed
for education, research, and outreach, providing a more affordable and
accessible way to learn about quantum computing concepts.
They operate at room
temperature and utilize NMR technology, which is a different approach from the
superconducting qubits used in larger quantum machines.
Future Potential for
Handheld Devices
- Scaling Down Complex Systems:
While current handheld
quantum computers are basic, the long-term goal is to shrink powerful,
large-scale quantum processors into more compact forms, according to sources
like BBC News and Live Science.
- Breakthroughs in Chip
Architecture:
Companies like Microsoft are developing new chip
architectures, such as their Majorana 1, which could allow for significantly
more qubits on a single chip, potentially leading to devices that are
palm-sized.
- Transformative Applications:
The aim is to create
quantum computers powerful enough to solve real-world problems that are
impossible for today’s supercomputers, such as developing new materials or
breaking complex encryption, which could eventually be integrated into handheld
devices.’
See also my earlier blog above – ‘What did the symbol of a deity carrying a bag signify in Antiquity?’
Is it possible that these ancient symbols represented hand held devices that were Quantum Processors?
