Professor Ron Folman, a quantum physicist at Ben-Gurion University (BGU) of the Negev, Israel, has been on a four-decade-long journey through the world of quantum physics, working across both theory and experimentation. In 2019, he founded the BGU Center for Experimental Quantum Science & Technology. However, as early as 2003, he had already established a quantum chip fabrication facility, which has since provided advanced quantum chips to research laboratories around the world. These chips have been used extensively in his own lab to investigate fundamental challenges in quantum technology, such as minimizing decoherence caused by room-temperature environments. His lab has also worked closely with industry, developing complete quantum devices including compact cold atomic clocks and atomic magnetic sensors. Professor Folman’s contributions to the field have earned him numerous recognitions: he is a Marie Curie Research Fellow, recipient of the Visiting Professor Award from the University of California, Berkeley (2013), the Lamb Medal in Quantum Optics (2011) for his pioneering application of material science in quantum optics, and an award from the Israeli Center for the Science of Complex Systems (2003).
Drawing on his extensive journey in quantum science, Prof. Ron Folman offers this reflection and powerful insight to the SheQuantum global community:
My Quantum journey started as an undergraduate student when the double-slit interference pattern with single particles (namely, one particle traversing the setup at any time) fascinated me. I quickly learned I was not alone, and that Feynman said that in essence, this experiment holds the entire mystery of quantum mechanics. Currently I conduct numerous interferometry (interference) experiments with cold atoms at the interface of quantum and gravity (or general relativity), whereby the fact that we have not been able to unify these two pillars of modern physics is considered so problematic that it may be pointing out that one of these theories, if not both, is at the very least incomplete, if not outright wrong. See for example, our latest paper on the quantum equivalence principle (https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.14535).
You can also view a fun popular-level animation video made on another experiment we did on this quantum-gravity interface, where we put a single clock in two heights above Earth simultaneously, so that the clock feels two different proper times (as Einstein taught us that at different heights the gravitationally induced red shift of proper time is different): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yMTIO2gDfI.
My group is named the Atom Chip group, where the Atom Chip is a device meant to miniaturize quantum technology onto a chip, to enable the same revolution that the semi-conductor chips enabled in the field of computing. Indeed, many quantum computing companies are already using such chips.
The quantum computer is of course inherently connected to the quantum phenomenon of interference, and so it is very natural that many of my students have moved on from doing interferometry in my group to building quantum computers in the industry. I may also open such a company myself, as this is indeed a fascinating field. It is fascinating in two very different respects. First, the technological applications may be mind-boggling, e.g., new chemistry for pharmaceuticals, or, for batteries. Second, it may also teach us new things about nature. For example, I call the quantum computer a worm-hole factory, as it is a factory for entanglement, and some hypothesize that entanglement creates worm-holes in space-time (see EPR = ER in Wikipedia). But a more immediate fundamental consequence of the quantum computer lies in its ability to teach us about decoherence. Decoherence, which is the process destroying quantum states (typically by unwanted coupling to the environment, or noisy quantum operations), is an extremely subtle process and I believe we are still far from completely understanding it. A better understanding of decoherence will not only improve quantum computers, but will also have ground-breaking implications to questions that stand at the very core of who we humans are, specifically, whether quantum processes, with their inherent randomness as well as weird features such as superposition and entanglement, survive long enough in our brain to be relevant at the decision-making levels.
If the above interests you, I think you will enjoy reading my recent book The Human Test: How Predictability, Creativity and the Quantum Mind Will Redefine Life in the Age of AI (you can of course buy it in Amazon and similar sites). It is a popular-level book written so that non-experts can enjoy it (while making available hundreds of academic references for those who want to delve deeper). Alon Halevy, a distinguished engineer at Google, an AI expert, formerly a professor of computer science and the recipient of the Sigmond Codd innovation award, wrote a beautiful blurb praising the book. The first and last sentences are: “In the cacophony of voices, books, and articles on the topic of AI, The Human Test clearly stands out… I find this book to be captivating and, more importantly, of paramount importance to our future.” Nobel laureate, Sir Roger Penrose wrote: “Ron Folman’s very substantial new book “The Human Test” has a very timely significance for a world where AI is beginning to play an increasing importance in society. From a broad background of experience, he presents an intriguing concept of a 50/50 balance between randomness and predictability that provides a novel angle on the study of human behaviour.” After writing this book I feel Niels Bohr was right when he said: A physicist is just an atom’s way of looking at itself.
To conclude, my Quantum journey, now spanning over forty years, has been not only intellectually uplifting, but I would dare to say that it has even been spiritually enlightening. I am extremely happy I have taken this path towards a deeper understanding of nature.
To the beginners in the field my advice would be to be very passionate about what you do, and that can only happen if you study quantum theory in depth and if you enjoy what you do. Don’t go into the industry too early. At the very least finish your M.Sc. and if possible, also complete a Ph.D. Always remember that there is a lot more to be discovered, and you may be the one to discover it. Always work in the cause of unveiling truths and for the benefit of humankind.
I wish to all the readers, that you may also experience this great journey.
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