Quantum2025 - under this name the physic's world is celebrating 100 years of quantum mechanics this year. On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the Department of EMW also made a contribution to the celebratory year. Prof. Kurtze welcomed almost sixty 11th grade students from two high schools in Dessau and their teachers to "a whole day of quantum physics".
In an interactive lecture, the students from Gymnasium Philanthropinum and Liborius-Gymnasium encountered photons, the Schrödinger equation and technological applications of quantum mechanics, which have become an integral part of our everyday lives. Together they explored questions such as: What was already known one hundred years ago - when quantum mechanics was first formulated - and what was completely new? And how could and can the concept be translated into applications and developments that actually have an impact on almost all areas of our culture, science, technology and art today?
Experiments on oscillations and waves, some of which the students were able to do themselves using the phyphox mobile app, helped the participants to understand the nature of quanta.
Finally, in a historical excursus, Prof. Kurtze also addressed the intertwining of scientific progress, society and responsibility by talking about so-called "German physics" and anti-Semitism in science during the National Socialist era.
"A whole day of quantum physics", interspersed of course with breaks and discussions with uni students, is quite demanding, too, but - according to Prof. Kurtze - the students brought solid prior knowledge from their physics lessons and a desire to think along with them.
We are delighted with this successful event in the spirit of Quantum2025!
