Scientists and citizens: getting to quantum technologies

Robert K. Heck, Oana Vuculescu, Jens Jakob Sørensen +17 more

We introduce a remote interface to control and optimize the experimental production of Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) and find improved solutions using two distinct implementations. First, a team of theoreticians used a remote version of their dressed chopped random basis optimization algorithm (RedCRAB), and second, a gamified interface allowed 600 citizen scientists from around the world to participate in real-time optimization. Quantitative studies of player search behavior demonstrated that they collectively engage in a combination of local and global searches. This form of multiagent adaptive search prevents premature convergence by the explorative behavior of low-performing players while high-performing players locally refine their solutions. In addition, many successful citizen science games have relied on a problem representation that directly engaged the visual or experiential intuition of the players. Here we demonstrate that citizen scientists can also be successful in an entirely abstract problem visualization. This is encouraging because a much wider range of challenges could potentially be opened to gamification in the future.

Wolfgang P. Schleich, Kedar S. Ranade, Christian Anton +34 more

L. Gallmann, José Luis Lado, Jan Meijer +1 more

C X Zhang

Quantum entanglement is a key driving force behind modern quantum technology. The first scientist to experimentally verify this concept was Chien-Shiung Wu in 1949, at which time she was still a Chinese citizen. On December 1, 2024, Chien-Shiung Wu was featured on the year-end cover of Physics Today, in recognition of her groundbreaking experiment of fundamental importance on quantum entanglement. While this was clearly a decisive moment in the history of science, for more than 70 years, few people, even scientists, in the world knew about its existence. Taking this opportunity, I would like to revisit the story behind this cover article to provide readers with the genesis of how all this unfolded.

Jens S. Laustsen, Robert K. Heck, Ottó Elíasson +3 more

Remote control of experimental systems allows for improved collaboration between research groups as well as unique remote educational opportunities accessible by students and citizen scientists. Here, we describe an experiment for the production and investigation of ultracold quantum gases capable of asynchronous remote control by multiple remote users. This is enabled by a queuing system coupled to an interface that can be modified to suit the user, e.g. a gamified interface for use by the general public or a scripted interface for an expert. To demonstrate this, the laboratory was opened to remote experts and the general public. During the available time, remote users were given the task of optimising the production of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). This work thus provides a stepping stone towards the exploration and realisation of more advanced physical models by remote experts, students and citizen scientists alike.

Krysta M. Svore