Meenu Kumari on quantum chaos

In this episode of Conversations at the Perimeter, host Lauren Hayward and Colin Hunter interview Meenu Kumari, a postdoctoral researcher at Perimeter Institute. Kumari explains her research at the intersection of quantum information, quantum foundations, and quantum matter. She begins by clarifying the difference between classical and quantum physics, highlighting key quantum features like superposition and entanglement. She then introduces the concept of classical chaos, using the butterfly effect and the double pendulum as examples, and contrasts it with quantum chaos, which is less understood. Kumari discusses the challenge of quantum-classical correspondence, noting that while quantum theory smoothly merges into classical for regular systems, this is not the case for chaotic systems. She explains how quantum mechanics lacks well-defined trajectories due to the uncertainty principle, complicating the definition of chaos. Kumari also touches on the no-cloning theorem and its applications in quantum cryptography. The conversation explores the mysterious nature of entanglement, often described as ‘spooky action at a distance’, and its role in her research. She emphasizes that while progress has been made, many open questions remain, and she finds motivation in exceptions that drive scientific innovation. The episode also covers her personal journey from India to theoretical physics, overcoming social pressures and doubters.