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back to article NIST set to shake up temperature with quantum thermometer

A moment with Google will reveal all kinds of cranks offering “free” energy from quantum “zero-point” phenomena, but it's a real thing with real effects. At the tiniest scales, quanta vibrate, even at their lowest energy. If all motion ceased, an observer would be able to breach uncertainty theory. Now, National Institute for …

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  1. Adam 1

    big problem with quantum thermometers

    ... Once you check the temperature, the temperature changes.

    /I'd grab my coat, but how would I be sure whether or not I needed it?

    12 0 Reply
    1. Rich 11
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      Re: big problem with quantum thermometers

      But measuring a lot of photon reflections from the cavity would provide an average, as long as it wasn't done too much for too long. It's the motion of the individual atom (or electron) which the photon scatters off which is affected, not (immediately, anyway) the temperature of the cavity.

      0 0 Reply
      1. frank ly
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        Re: big problem with quantum thermometers

        If you had a quantum thermometer, you'd definitely know if you needed your coat. Oh, ......

        0 0 Reply
        1. Scott 53
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          Re: big problem with quantum thermometers

          It is simultaneously too cold and too warm until the moment you put your Schrodinger's coat on.

          8 0 Reply
          1. allthecoolshortnamesweretaken
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            Re: big problem with quantum thermometers

            Is that the one lined with cat fur?

            3 0 Reply
            1. Mephistro
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              Re: big problem with quantum thermometers

              "Is that the one lined with cat fur?"

              Yes and no.

              5 0 Reply
            2. TeeCee Gold badge
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              Alert

              Re: big problem with quantum thermometers

              The only cat fur lining that's apt to get up, mew a bit and then walk off....

              0 0 Reply
              1. P. Lee
                Reply Icon

                re: The only cat fur lining that's apt to get up, mew a bit and then walk off....

                apt-get cat isn't mews, er, news (which you can also apt-get)

                And news shouldn't be consigned to alt.bin.history.

                I'd add to the joke, but I think that's fur enough.

                0 0 Reply
  2. Inventor of the Marmite Laser Silver badge
    Coat

    This is going to be

    A hot topic

    3 0 Reply
  3. Mark 85

    So would the cat be frozen or roasted?

    See title

    1 0 Reply
  4. Whitter
    Thumb Up

    Tricky

    Tricky bit might be that it sounds very much like a particle measurement, while temperature is an ensemble property. But then again, tricky is what such people do!

    4 0 Reply

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