Quantum physicist

Earnings (Yearly Median): $139,220 (Physicists and Astronomers; Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)

Employment and Outlook: 5% (Faster than average) (all physicists; Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)

O*NET-SOC Code: 19-2012.00

Related Career Clusters: Government & Public Administration; Education & Training; Information Technology

Scope of Work

The field of quantum physics is broad in scope, ranging from quantum optics to studies in unified field theory (more commonly known as the elusive "theory of everything"), and quantum physicists perform a variety of tasks in both theoretical and experimental capacities. A majority of quantum physicists work in academia as researchers or professors. Others are employed by the government, and a small number of quantum physicists are employed by private companies to develop new technologies based on the behavior of subatomic particles.

Experimental quantum physicists observe and analyze physical effects on subatomic particles. For example, physicists at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) record data produced by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Geneva, Switzerland. The LHC is the world's largest particle accelerator.

Theoretical quantum physicists seek to reconcile existing theories with observations and data. They also suggest new theories that they hope can be proved through experimentation.

Education and Coursework

Knowledge of the quantum universe and the behavior of subatomic particles is constantly evolving and is sometimes in dispute among theorists. For this reason, research in the field is closely tied to academia. It could even be said that the education of a quantum physicist, which begins in high school and officially concludes with postdoctoral research, is never truly over.

Aspiring quantum physicists should study general physics and mathematics in high school. The American Physical Society (APS) recommends courses in pre-algebra, algebra, advanced algebra, and precalculus. For undergraduate students, the APS suggests a strong foundation in a variety of mathematics and science courses, augmented by courses in communication, science writing, and education for those who want to teach. Most colleges offer a major in general physics, though students interested in theoretical quantum physics should be equally versed in mathematics.

Specializations such as quantum physics come through research opportunities. The APS recommends getting involved with research as early as possible, even if the research is outside of a student's chosen area of specialization. Undergraduate research experience is a valuable asset in the graduate-school admissions process and teaches real-world skills such as deadline management, problem-solving, and improvisation. The APS lists internship opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students.

Master's and doctoral studies in quantum physics are research-based and offer advanced studies in specialized branches of quantum physics, including cosmology, energy research, field theory, quantum chromodynamics (QCD), quantum computing, quantum gravity, and string theory. As many of the world's leading quantum physicists work in academia, graduate students can expect to be on the cutting edge of the field. For example, a popular postdoctoral area of research for theoretical quantum physicists is string theory, an evolving and complex theory that seeks to relate Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity to quantum mechanics. String theory posits that elementary particles are vibrating "strings" of energy. For experimental quantum physicists, quantum entanglement, which offers the potential for encrypting messages and building ultrafast computers, is a rich newer field of research.

After graduate school, quantum physicists usually participate in two to three years of postdoctoral research. Students can expect to spend at least five to seven years total completing both their doctoral and postdoctoral work.

Career Enhancement and Training

Quantum physics, which deals with the behaviors of subatomic particles, is vitally important to a greater understanding of the known universe and to the development of new technologies. Advancements in the field are beneficial to a number of other areas, which is why much of the research performed by quantum physicists is funded by collaborations among governments, universities, and private companies.

Collaboration among quantum physicists is equally important, whether analyzing and verifying data or developing new theories and advancing old ones. Thus, opportunities for sharing and publishing work are vital to the career of a quantum physicist. The Internet has significantly broadened the playing field in this respect. Additionally, working physicists attend meetings and conferences to share their work with other physicists from around the world. Very few quantum physicists work completely independently of their peers or a university or research institution, though some, including a number of theorists who oppose string theory, have argued that the politics of association and funding have stifled creativity in the field and popularized stale arguments.

Networking is also an important part of any physicist's career. Quantum physicists can apply for membership with a number of professional organizations, including the APS, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT).

Daily Tasks and Technology

Theoretical quantum physicists often work in academia, teaching physics courses to undergraduate or graduate students. Physicists who are also teachers or full-time professors must balance education and independent research, which may include analyzing complex mathematical systems and creating theoretical models, as well as writing grant proposals and scholarly articles.

The twenty-first-century development of many new technologies has made it possible to test a number of theories for the first time and with incredible precision. The Large Hadron Collider, which began operations in 2008, allows physicists at CERN to recreate and observe how matter behaved in a fraction of a second after the Big Bang. CERN and the LHC project employ a number of quantum physicists in capacities related to the technical operation of the collider and the constant stream of data it produces.

The LHC is an underground, 16.5-mile circular tunnel inside which technicians accelerate beams of particles from opposite directions. When the beams collide, new particles are created. A major achievement came in 2012 when CERN provided experimental proof of the Higgs boson particle, an important puzzle piece of theoretical quantum physics. Technologies such as the LHC have allowed for more collaboration between experimental quantum physicists and theoretical quantum physicists than ever before.

Some private companies, such as the computer company IBM, employ quantum physicists to develop new technologies with their engineers. In the past, quantum physicists have often been at the technological forefront. The twentieth century saw the advent of transistors, atomic clocks, and lasers, all due to the work of quantum physicists.

Earnings and Employment Outlook

Employment of all types of physicists was projected to increase by 5 percent between 2022 and 2032, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics—faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. In addition, the demand for newer and faster technology is high, meaning researchers in cutting-edge quantum fields will remain important.

Physicists are well paid, with a median annual salary of $139,220 in 2022, but are required to have a Ph.D. and postdoctoral experience in quantum mechanics and particle physics. The research of most quantum physicists is funded by the government, universities, and research institutions. Declines in public funding are expected to be offset by growing funds from private companies such as IBM.

Related Occupations

• Mathematicians: Theoretical mathematicians create and expand theories in high-level mathematics. Their work can be used to advance technologies in physics and engineering. Mathematicians working in applied mathematics analyze data in a particular industry, such as transportation or finance.

• Nuclear Engineers:Nuclear engineers apply principles of nuclear science to a variety of industries. They also design, operate, and monitor nuclear power plants.

• Electronics Engineers:Electronics engineers design a wide range of electronic devices, including global positioning systems (GPS), computer software, and broadcasting equipment.

• Computer and Information Research Scientists: Computer and information research scientists look for new ways to improve existing computer technology and write new software. Specializations within the field include hardware architecture and robotics.

• Biophysicists: Research in biophysics can be applied to the development of new drugs, genetically engineered foods, and biofuels. Biophysicists often work with scientists in other fields, including chemistry and engineering.

Future Applications

Quantum physicists are continually developing new technologies, including quantum computers, based on a phenomenon known as quantum entanglement. Quantum entanglement describes the relationship between two separate particles that interact with and respond to each other over vast distances. The relationship between the two, sometimes different, particles is such that if a particular change occurs in one particle, the same change occurs instantaneously in the other. Physicists hope to exploit this behavior to transmit and encrypt information. They refer to this endeavor as "quantum teleportation" because the information does not travel through space and, therefore, cannot be hacked. A computer that could process information in accordance with the strange laws that govern quantum mechanics could solve a number of equations simultaneously, computing, perhaps in seconds, calculations that would take a standard computer nearly fourteen billion years to solve.

The Joint Quantum Institute, a collaboration between the University of Maryland and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is among the organizations that have undertaken studies in quantum tunneling. Another strange phenomenon exclusive to quantum mechanics, quantum tunneling occurs when a particle passes through or surmounts a barrier that, according to the laws of the natural world, it should not be able to. Scientists are able to measure such phenomena with greater accuracy than ever before, and they hope the data will lead to real-world applications.

Bibliography

"Physicists and Astronomers." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 6 Sept. 2023, www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/physicists-and-astronomers.htm. Accessed 26 Sept. 2023.

Trachanas, Stefanos. An Introduction to Quantum Physics: A First Course for Physicists, Chemists, Materials Scientists, and Engineers. Translated and edited by Manolis Antonoyiannakis and Leonidas Tsetseris, Wiley, 2018.