CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM CHAOS
1. Context
In a world marked by the ubiquity of smartphones and pressing global challenges like climate change and antimicrobial resistance, understanding chaos in classical and quantum systems becomes essential. Chaos is prevalent in many systems, from weather forecasting to the behaviour of Rydberg atoms, and it has both classical and quantum interpretations.
2. Chaos in Classical Systems
- The Earth's atmosphere, a realm of ever-changing conditions, exhibits chaotic behaviour.
- The "butterfly effect" illustrates the idea that small changes can lead to significant, unpredictable weather phenomena.
- Classically chaotic systems, like pinball machines, follow deterministic physical laws but display unpredictable behaviour.
- The concept of deterministic chaos implies that the future can be predicted only with precise knowledge of the present.
- The predictability of chaotic systems depends on the precision of initial conditions, tolerance for uncertainty, and the Lyapunov time.
- Lyapunov time varies from milliseconds in electrical circuits to millions of years in planetary dynamics.
3. Chaos in Quantum Systems
- Quantum mechanics, applied to the microscopic and macroscopic domains, is probabilistic, not chaotic.
- In quantum mechanics, subatomic particles don't have precise point-like locations but exist in probability clouds.
- Quantum chaos studies the dynamics of classically chaotic systems within the framework of quantum physics.
- Perturbation theory addresses mild disturbances in quantum systems, while chaos necessitates a distinct approach.
- A Rydberg atom is a unique quantum system that exhibits characteristics of classical mechanics.
- Chaos in a Rydberg atom manifests in the distribution of energy levels, displaying intriguing regularities.
- Quantum chaos is a burgeoning area of research with conceptual, experimental, and computational challenges.
- It holds implications for diverse fields such as thermalization, quantum information, and the study of black holes in quantum mechanics.
4. Conclusion
The study of chaos in classical and quantum systems unveils the intricate interplay between predictability and randomness in the natural world. Whether unravelling the unpredictability of weather or probing the quantum mysteries of Rydberg atoms, researchers delve into uncharted territory that promises exciting discoveries and practical applications in various scientific domains.
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For Prelims: Choas, Climate Change, Quantum systems, antimicrobial resistance, Rydberg atoms, butterfly effect,
For Mains:
1. Discuss the concept of chaos in classical systems, highlighting the 'butterfly effect' and its implications for weather forecasting and other complex phenomena. (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions
1. Which one of the following is the context in which the term "qubit" is mentioned? (UPSC 2022) A. Cloud Services B. Quantum Computing C. Visible Light Communication Technologies D. Wireless Communication Technologies Answer: B 2. Quantum computing uses (ACC 124 CGAT 2021)
A. Qubit
B. Bits
C. Bytes
D. Qubytes
Answer: A
3. A quantum dot is - (RPSC RAS 2021)
A. Electron microscopy image of nanostructures smaller than 1 nanometers
B. Nanoscales analog of radio antennas
C. A fictional nanorobot
D. A semiconductor nanostructure
Answer: D
4. With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC 2016)
1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017
2. The Agreement aims to limit greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $ 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 and 3 only B. 2 only C. 2 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
5. A new type of El Nino called El Nino Modoki appeared in the news. In this context, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2010)
1. Normal El Nino forms in the Central Pacific ocean whereas El Nino Modoki forms in the Eastern Pacific ocean.
2. Normal El Nino results in diminished hurricanes in the Atlantic ocean but El Nino Modoki results in a greater number of hurricanes with greater frequency.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
6. La Nina is suspected to have caused recent floods in Australia. How is La Nina different from El Nino? (UPSC 2011)
1. La Nina is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperature in the equatorial Indian Ocean whereas El Nino is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
2. El Nino has an adverse effect on the south-west monsoon of India, but La Nina has no effect on the monsoon climate.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: D
7. Consider the following statements: (MPSC 2017)
a. La Nina is a little girl.
b. During the time of La Nina cold water in the ocean rises to the surface.
c. La Nina strengthens the Indian monsoon.
d. During the time of El Nino, trade winds weaken, and warm water moves east in the ocean. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A. Only a and b B. a, b and c C. Only b and c D. All of the above
Answer: D
8. With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC 2020)
1. OMT is measured up to a depth of 26°C isotherm which is 129 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean during January-March.
2. OMT collected during January-March can be used in assessing whether the amount of rainfall in monsoon will be less or more than a certain long-term mean.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
9. With reference to 'Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)' sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC 2017)
1. IOD phenomenon is characterised by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.
2. An IOD phenomenon can influence an EI Nino's impact on the monsoon.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
10. "EL Nino" refers to a temperature anomaly in the ________ ocean. (NTPC 2017)
A. Indian B. Pacific C. Southern D. Atlantic
Answer: B
11. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently published the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, in 2020. Which of the following statements is correct about EIA? (Punjab Civil Service 2020)
1. It predicts the effect of a proposed industrial/infrastructural project on the environment.
2. It prevents the proposed activity/project from being approved without proper oversight or taking adverse consequences into account.
3. It compares various alternatives for a project and seeks to identify the one which represents the best combination of economic and environmental costs and benefits.
4. As per the new notification, Coal and non-Coal mineral prospecting and solar photovoltaic projects do not need prior environmental clearance.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. Only 1 and 2
B. Only 2, 3 and 4
C. Only 1, 2 and 3
D. Only 1, 2 and 4
Answer: D
12. In the context of India’s preparation for Climate -Smart Agriculture, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2021)
1. The ‘Climate-Smart Village’ approach in India is part of a project led by the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), an international research program.
2. The project of CCAFS is carried out under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural (CGIAR) headquartered in France.
3. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India is one of the CGIAR’s research centers.
Which of the statements given above is correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
13. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2012)
1. The duration of the monsoon decreases from southern India to northern India.
2. The amount of annual rainfall in the northern plains of India decreases from east to west. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C
14. Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India? (UPSC 2019) 1. The genetic predisposition of some people
2. Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases
3. Using antibiotics in livestock farming
4. Multiple chronic diseases in some people
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
A. 1 and 2 B. 2 and 3 only C. 1, 3 and 4 D. 2, 3 and 4
Answer: B
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Source: The Hindu
