The Quantum Drug Discovery Revolution. What is Quantum Mechanics?

Classical physics, which describes the behavior of objects at the macroscopic scale, cannot explain the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic level. This is because classical physics is based on the principles of determinism and locality, which do not hold true at the quantum level.

Determinism is the principle that the future is entirely determined by the past. This means that, if we know the state of a system at a given time, we can predict its state at any future time. However, quantum mechanics tells us that the future is not entirely determined by the past. This is because the behavior of subatomic particles is probabilistic, not deterministic.

Locality is the principle that no information can travel faster than the speed of light. This means that, if two objects are separated by a distance, no information can travel between them faster than the speed of light. However, quantum mechanics tells us that this is not true at the quantum level. Quantum entanglement allows two particles to be instantaneously connected, even if they are separated by a large distance.

The principles of superposition and entanglement are two of the most important principles in quantum mechanics. Superposition states that a particle can exist in multiple states at the same time. This is in contrast to classical physics, which states that a particle can only exist in one state at a time. Entanglement states that two particles that have interacted with each other can remain connected, even if they are separated by a large distance. This means that the state of one particle can instantaneously affect the state of the other particle, even if there is no physical connection between them.

The principles of superposition and entanglement give rise to some unique properties of quantum computers, such as the ability to perform certain computations that are impossible for classical computers. This is because quantum computers can take advantage of the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics to perform computations that would be impossible for classical computers.

Quantum mechanics is a complex and fascinating field of science. It is a field that is still in its early stages of development, and there is much that we do not yet understand about it. However, quantum mechanics is already having a profound impact on our understanding of the world around us. It is a field that is sure to continue to revolutionize our understanding of the universe for many years to come.