In a world where quantum technologies are on the rise in computing, cryptography, materials, sensors, telecommunications, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence, it’s easy to forget that not so long ago, the words “quantum” and “technology” rarely fit into a sentence. together. A number of pioneers envisioned quantum physics turning into quantum engineering turning into quantum custom technology, or, for those who worked before the quantum era, imagined that distant theoretical horizons entered a range of practical applications. However, not all of these early innovators are known to those who develop modern quantum technologies. However, rediscovering the lost history of the early pioneers of quantum science today brings at least three dividends: advancing the field by better understanding its past, inspiring new generations of future leaders, and finally recognizing merit where it should be.

With this in mind, science journalists Brian Lenahan and Kenna Hughes-Castleberry have written a new book.On the Shoulders of Giants: 10 Quantum Pioneers of the Past (published this week), reviving the legacy of sometimes obscure figures in quantum history. It is no coincidence that the release of their book also clearly coincides with the fundamentals of World Quantum Day (April 14), the organizers of which established it to promote “public understanding of quantum science and technology throughout the world.”

IEEE Spectrum recently spoke with Lenahan and Hughes-Castelberry about hidden genius, pre-medieval computer programs and Fashion celebrity magazine photo shoot.

IEEE Spectrum: By what criteria did you select the historical figures that your book tells about?

photo of a man with blond hair and glasses on the left, a portrait of a smiling woman with curly red hair on the leftBrian Lenahan and Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, authors of a new book on the forgotten stories of quantum technology Brian Lenahan and Kenna Hughes-Castleberry

Hughes Castleberry: I saw this as a great opportunity to introduce a new set of role models that hadn’t really been accepted or maybe shown before. So Brian and I searched all over the world for quantum scientists, physicists or mathematicians to understand who was not really covered and why. We tried to pick 10 key personalities who have either been overshadowed by someone else, or perhaps just haven’t hit the spotlight yet.

Any story, of course, is selective – it does not tell more stories than it tells. But if you’ll excuse my bluntness, why should readers of technologists and engineers ultimately be interested in the history of quantum pioneers, however organized?

Lenahan: We’re talking about the technology these quantum pioneers have invested in and what it means for today’s applications. But we also share personal stories. Each of these scientists and engineers has had to go through difficulties in their personal lives or in their education, or through trials, tribulations and experiments. This is very important for these individual quantum pioneers.

Hughes CastleberryA: I saw it as quantum computing, and the technology has a giant engineering aspect. All these promising technologies need engineers. In fact, in our book, we talk about several engineers, including Mark A. Reed, who coined the term “quantum dot” and worked in the engineering department of Yale University. If you have an engineering background, you might see something like quantum computing, perhaps out of the ordinary. [your] depth. But in fact, we wrote this book for people with an engineering background and a general science background. And if you are in one of these areas, it will be really interesting for you.

“Their names may not be known in the West, but they are very well known in their home countries. … We hope to bring some of these people into the Western world.”
— Brian Lenahan, co-author On the shoulders of giants

You mentioned people who were in the shadows. What can Range readers want to know about Satyendra Nath Bose and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga? Who were brilliant scientists in their own right, but who also collaborated with such legendary figures as Albert Einstein and Richard Feynman, respectively.

Hughes Castleberry: The Bose story has not been told since the early 2000s. Most people when you say something like Higgs boson or bose einstein, people pick up this name. But many people don’t know that he is Indian. Many assume that he was German. His story is really unique because he lived during the colonization of India and he had to go through this whole process to make a name for himself. He relied on Einstein as a mentor, as someone who could lead him forward, and Einstein really recognized his genius.

Not so with Tomonaga. He was not part of the colonial group, but he had his own [challenges] due to World War II. Japan was considered an enemy with internment camps and everything. He was teaching somewhere in a cave or bunker when the bombs were exploding. He later entered atomic politics in an attempt to reduce the escalation in the use of nuclear weapons.

vintage black and white portrait of a man with glasses sitting and holding a pipe in his mouthElmer Imes pioneered the first quantum applications in chemistry and physics. National Society of Black Physicists

Lenahan: The names of Bose and [Tomonaga] may be unknown in the West, but very well known in their native countries. Educational institutions and municipal institutions, everywhere the names of these people. We hope to bring some of these people into the Western world.

Several names in your book that I have never heard of in any context. For example, Elmer Imes is a pioneer of infrared spectroscopy and early applications in quantum theory. What about his work drew your attention to him?

Lenahan: He was an experimenter who did spectroscopy in the laboratory, not just in theory. Whether you’re looking for tumors or tainted milk, he did it on an experimental basis.

Hughes Castleberry: I was struck by how little has been written about him, despite the fact that he was an extremely influential person. Not just for quantum physics and spectroscopy, but for equality and the creation of historically black colleges like Fisk University.

Your book talks about the role of Frances “Betty” Holberton and the early programming language she worked on, C-10. So why did you focus on her and not, for example, Grace Hopper?

Hughes Castleberry: Betty was more into blueprints, creating early programming languages. Hopper outshines Betty Holberton. It has only been in the last 20 years that Betty and her team have become known to the public.

Lenahan: Respectfully often perceived by men in this environment. This led to them being called “refrigerator ladies”, bands that weren’t really recognized for what they actually did.

What about the Mark Reid you mentioned earlier?

Hughes Castleberry: We chose Mark because we wanted to show that not all quantum technologies have to be quantum computing. You have quantum perception, atomic clocks, quantum dots. I think Mark’s story stands out a little more, showing a different trajectory of what a quantum can do beyond just doing calculations. He was also an influential mentor, chair of the undergraduate electrical engineering department at Yale University. So he had to meet every undergraduate student who passed through the department. And he worked to educate them all, to show that rules can be broken, and really took the time to educate each one of them.

Lenahan: Modern technologies will definitely be supplemented by quantum dots. In just the last 3 months I’ve been hearing experts talk about quantum dots in solar cell technology and then just today I hosted a panel where someone was talking about quantum dots in health and life science related sensors and imaging. His recent work is influencing how research engineers think about quantum dots and their applications.

vintage black and white photo of a woman with short hair, glasses and a smiling shirt with a white collarFrances “Betty” Holberton was the co-inventor of one of the world’s first C-10 programming languages. Priscilla Holberton / Holberton School

Reed was very interested in applied quantum science. On the contrary, you are also talking about one Pantur Silaban. Why did you single out his work and his story?

Hughes Castleberry: There are very few records about him, and most of them are in Indonesian. But his contribution is very useful for creating a unified theory [of physics]- Grand Unified Theory. Very theoretical, very technical, but nonetheless very important for us to get to where we are today.

Your book also tells the story of Claude Shannon, an early computer scientist who may not be very eclipsed today; he is quite famous. How did he get into your book?

Lenahan: We hope this book will be distributed to high school students, college students, and people who may not have come across someone like him yet.

Hughes Castleberry: He is very famous, but only within his sphere of influence. But he was one of the most popular scientists of his time. He had photo shoots in Vogue magazine Life magazine, Time a journal that is almost unheard of for scientists. But if you ask the public Who is Claude Shannon? Very few people can answer this question. So we wanted to showcase his popularity. But still he is still not recognized as a genius, which he really is.

Pushing the lens, anyone who uses computers or algorithms is relying on the work of another pioneer in your book. Could you describe it?

Lenahan: He goes farthest in our book, by 800 AD. Muhammad ibn al-Khwarizmi was a Renaissance man for his era. At that time he lived and worked in Persia, especially in Baghdad, which at that time was the center of the known universe. And he was part of the House of Wisdom [a.k.a. the Grand Library of Baghdad], which was the center of the center. He had interests in philosophy, diplomacy, mathematics, innovation, stars, so many different interests.

Hughes Castleberry: You’re talking about a time when the Middle East took place. But since Europe was at war with the Middle East…[including] crusades – Europe was kept in the dark ages. Al-Kharezmi really stands out for his time because he created the algorithm and also invented algebra. He saw this as a really practical application: if you pay someone, how can you calculate their monthly salary? Or, if you’re trying to settle a money dispute, how can you do that? He saw this as an easy way, which the inhabitants of simple villages, who did not have his education, could use to make their lives easier.

This transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.

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