The Nobel Prize in physics for 2022 is being awarded to Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger for their work on quantum mechanics, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced on October 4, 2022.
The 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded “for experiments with entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities, and pioneering quantum information science,” the academy said.
The 2022 physics laureates’ development of experimental tools has laid the foundation for a new era of quantum technology. Being able to manipulate and manage quantum states and all their layers of properties gives us access to tools with unexpected potential.
Intense research and development are underway to utilise the special properties of individual particle systems to construct quantum computers, improve measurements, build quantum networks and establish secure quantum encrypted communication.
This year’s Nobel Prize laureate John Clauser built an apparatus that emitted two entangled photons at a time, each towards a filter that tested their polarisation. The result was a clear violation of a Bell inequality and agreed with the predictions of quantum mechanics.
Alain Aspect – awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics – developed a setup to close an important loophole. He was able to switch the measurement settings after an entangled pair had left its source, so the setting that existed when they were emitted could not affect the result.
Anton Zeilinger, 2022 Nobel Prize laureate in physics, researched entangled quantum states. His research group has demonstrated a phenomenon called quantum teleportation, which makes it possible to move a quantum state from one particle to one at a distance.
The 2022 Nobel Prize laureates in physics have conducted groundbreaking experiments using entangled quantum states, where two particles behave like a single unit even when they are separated. The results have cleared the way for new technology based upon quantum information.
EC mulls over making manifestos include financial ramifications of promises
The Election Commission on Tuesday proposed that political parties should declare what the promises made in their manifestos would cost the exchequer and how they intended on paying for them, if elected to power.
The Election Commission wrote in a letter to the heads of all recognised national and State parties about its proposal to amend the Model Code of Conduct guidelines to include the financial ramifications of promises in their manifestos. It sought the parties’ views by October 19.
“While the existing guidelines under MCC require the political parties and candidates to explain the rationale for promises made therein as well as the possible ways and means to finance such promises, the Commission found that the declarations are quite routine, ambiguous and do not provide adequate information to voters to exercise informed choice in an election,” the Commission’s letter stated.
It said most of the parties did not submit these declarations in time. It added that while the EC was “agnostic to the nature of promises”, it was imperative to frame the disclosure requirements in order to have free and fair elections.
It proposed to supplement the existing MCC guidelines and “mandate political parties to inform voters at large about financial ramifications of their promises in manifesto as against well-defined quantifiable parameters”.
The EC proposed introducing two forms for the parties to submit the details, one with the information of extent of coverage and the likely expenditure, and the second with details of sources of revenue and impact on the fiscal sustainability of the state or Union government. The second form would also have details of the revenue receipts and expenditure of the state or Union government provided by the Chief Secretary or Union Finance Secretary.
Doctrinal aspects of Air Force should not be compromised by new structures under theatre commands: IAF chief
While the Indian Air Force (IAF) is not opposed to the process of having theatre commands, it has “certain reservations” with respect to the structures and the doctrinal aspects of the force “should not in any way be compromised by this new structure”, said IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal (ACM) V.R. Chaudhari on Tuesday. On the situation in Eastern Ladakh, while disengagement has been undertaken in some places, the benchmark would be return to “status quo ante” and “complete withdrawal” from all the points all along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari speaks during a press conference ahead of the 90th Air Force Day celebrations on October 8, in New Delhi on October 4, 2022. | Photo Credit: PTI
“The best benchmark would be return to status quo ante and complete withdrawal from all the points all along the LAC. That is the ideal situation that we would look for. All preparedness in terms infrastructure building, equipment, training and tactics is a continuous effort, irrespective of we see any belligerence on the part of Chinese or not,” ACM Chaudhari said addressing the annual press conference ahead of Air Force Day on October 08.
With Gen Anil Chauhan taking over of the second Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) last week, the stalled process of tri-service integration which includes reorganisation of the armed forces into integrated theatre commands is expected to get back on track.
“We are fully supporting the integration process. It is only the methodology and the kind of structure that need to be future ready is what we are insisting,” the Air Chief said. On what future ready means, he said it should be shorter decision making, reduction in the layers of command and control and more importantly to synergy the core competencies.
“Each service has a doctrine. The doctrinal aspects of the IAF is what I am worried about, should not in anyway be compromised by this new structure,” he stated.
Asked about the situation along the LAC following the recent disengagement from Patrolling Point-15 in Gogra-Hot Springs area, the Air Chief said they we keep monitoring the activities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force. “Infrastructure development continues to take place at a rapid place across the LAC particularly Eastern Ladakh sector.”
At least four mountaineering trainees killed in Uttarakhand avalanche
At least four mountaineers were killed in an avalanche at Mount Draupadi Ka Danda - II peak in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on Tuesday, officials said.
A team of 34 trainee mountaineers, seven instructors and one nursing assistant from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) was caught in an avalanche while returning, the institute said in a statement. As many as 28 trainees were reported to be trapped following the avalanche.
“The Rescue work is on progress as of now 4 bodies have been recovered. SDRF, NDRF and Indian Air Force are helping in the rescuer,” the NIM statement said.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that rapid, relief and rescue operations are underway.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that he is “deeply anguished by the loss of precious lives due to landslide which has struck the mountaineering expedition” carried out by the NIM in Uttarkashi. “Rescue operations are underway to help the mountaineers who are still trapped. I have instructed the IAF to mount the rescue and relief ops. Praying for everyone’s safety and well-being,” he added.
Mulayam Singh Yadav continues to be critical, shifted to ICU, says hospital
The condition of Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav continues to be critical and on October 4 he was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Medanta hospital in Gurugram, the hospital said.
Mr. Yadav, 82, was in the critical care unit of the hospital till Monday.
“Mulayam Singh ji is still critical and admitted in the ICU of Medanta Hospital and is being treated by a comprehensive team of specialists,” said the health bulletin issued by the hospital, and tweeted by the Samajwadi Party on its official handle.
In Brief:
The upper house of Russia’s parliament voted on Tuesday to approve the incorporation of four Ukrainian regions into Russia, as Moscow sets about formally annexing territory it sized from Kyiv during its seven-month conflict. In a session on Tuesday, the Federation Council unanimously ratified legislation to annex the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, following a similar vote in the State Duma, Russia’s lower house, yesterday. The documents now pass back to the Kremlin for President Vladimir Putin’s final signature to complete the process of formally annexing the four regions, representing around 18% of Ukraine’s internationally-recognised territory.
