ÄûÃʵ¼º½

News

Researchers merged quantum optics with a treasure hunt

In The Photonic Trail exhibition, you can learn about photons, lasers, qubits, quantum superposition, and quantum entanglement in a world of mischievous fairies, ghost ships and rumbly dwarves. The exhibition is open in the premises of Otaniemi upper secondary school April 11 - May 2. You can also play the game online.
The Photonic Trail

One of the aims of , the national quantum institute, and the platform developed by some of the institute’s researchers is to increase our understanding of the significance of quantum research and technologies in the society. Now QPlayLearn has created The Photonic Trail game in collaboration with Quantum Flytrap. The game introduces the basics concepts of quantum optics in a playful way, while also maintaining a high level of accuracy in the explanations.

The exhibition is open in the premises of Otaniemi upper secondary school April 11 - May 2, from Monday to Friday 8am - 4pm. The exhibition is in English, and it's suitable for secondary and upper secondary school students.

Quantum optics is the study of how light quanta, called photons, interact with atoms and molecules. But there is more than just physics in The Photonic Trail game. It is a combination of physics, fantasy storytelling and art.

The Photonic Trail is a treasure hunt with six missions covering the basics of quantum optics. In the exhibition, you can learn about photons, lasers, qubits, quantum superposition, and quantum entanglement in a world of mischievous fairies, ghost ships and rumbly dwarves.

In the game, players find themselves immersed in the Enchanted Realm, where their goal is to seek the Hilbert Spade, an ancient, magical artefact that kingdoms once warred over before it was hidden away. It's said that whoever wields the Hilbert Spade can travel anywhere in spacetime by simply digging a small hole in the ground. But only a Master of Light is worthy enough to attain this treasure.

In order to become such a Master, players must traverse the ancient Photonic Trail, overcoming obstacles along the way. The challenges come in the form of six missions, and to accomplish them players must conduct experiments in a virtual laboratory of quantum optics.

Each successful mission takes you one step closer to becoming a Master of Light, one step closer to finding and wielding the Hilbert Spade.

The exhibition is sponsored by Aalto University and the University of Helsinki, both part of InstituteQ, with support from Algorithmiq Oy. Read more at the .

If you want to visit the exhibition with your class, please contact teacher Matti Heikkinen, matti.heikkinen@eduespoo.fi, tel. 050 4024077.

Credits

Artist: Sibel Kantola

Concept and Stories: Radha Pyari Sandhir

Development & Production: Caterina Foti, Rosario Maniscalco, Sabrina Maniscalco and the QPlayLearn team.

Contact information:

Caterina Foti

Caterina Foti: My dream is to expose people from 0- to 99-years old to the quantum world

Caterina Foti is involved in a quantum institute, a quantum online platform, a quantum exhibition, and a quantum startup that just received seed funding.

News
The low-temperature plate inside of the refrigerator. The team attaches their bolometers here. Credit: Aalto University.

Finnish Quantum Institute announced

InstituteQ will coordinate research, teaching and commercialisation across Finland

News
  • Updated:
  • Published:
Share
URL copied!

Read more news

A collage of nine people in formal and casual attire. Backgrounds vary from office settings to plain walls.
Research & Art Published:

Research Council of Finland establishes a Center of Excellence in Quantum Materials

The Centre, called QMAT, creates new materials to power the quantum technology of coming decades.
Split image: left shows a white truck on a road with plants; right shows digital lines and a partial face. Text: unite! #UniteSeedFund
Awards and Recognition, Cooperation Published:

Two Unite! Seed Fund projects involving Aalto secure top EU funding

Two prestigious EU grants have been awarded to projects that were initially supported with Unite! Seed Funding. Both projects involve Aalto.
arotor adjustable stiffness test setup
Cooperation, Research & Art Published:

Major funding powers development of next-generation machine technology aimed at productivity leap in export sectors

The BEST research project is developing new types of sealing, bearing, and damping technology.
TAIMI-hanke rakentaa tasa-arvoista työelämää. Kuva: Kauppakorkeakoulu Hanken.
Research & Art Published:

The TAIMI project builds an equal working life – a six-year consortium project seeks solutions to recruitment and skill challenges

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing skill requirements, the population is aging, and the labor shortage is deepening. Meanwhile, the potential of international experts often remains unused in Finland. These challenges in working life are addressed by the six-year TAIMI project funded by the Strategic Research Council, and implemented by a broad consortium.