뉴스센터

On March 26, 2025, SUNY Korea had the privilege of hosting Dr. Jaewan Kim, a distinguished professor at Yonsei University and the Director of the Institute of Quantum Information Technology. Held in Room 105 of Academic Building C, the seminar presented a unique opportunity for students and faculty to dive into the evolving world of quantum mechanics and quantum information science.

The event began with light refreshments and an introduction to Dr. Kim, whose academic background spans decades of pioneering work in quantum theory. To break the ice and immediately capture the audience’s curiosity, Dr. Kim engaged two student volunteers in a clever number-guessing activity, using a table of values to demonstrate the power of binary (bit) systems, a concept that would anchor the rest of his talk.

Celebrating 100 years of quantum mechanics, Dr. Kim guided attendees through the historical evolution of the field, from foundational figures like De Broglie, Heisenberg, Schrödinger, and Bohr, to the major philosophical debates that shaped modern quantum theory. He emphasized concepts such as wave-particle duality, quantum superposition, and entanglement, weaving in famous thought experiments like Schrödinger’s cat and the EPR paradox.

One particularly striking segment of the seminar addressed the first and second quantum revolutions. The first revolution laid the foundation for our understanding of atomic structures and gave rise to transformative technologies like semiconductors and lasers. The second quantum revolution, as Dr. Kim explained, focuses on quantum information science, including quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and quantum sensing.

Dr. Kim highlighted the contributions of John Bell and the 1964 proposal of Bell’s inequality, a pivotal moment that led to experimental tests confirming quantum mechanics' predictions and opening the door to quantum information science.
From quantum cryptography to quantum radar and quantum imaging, Dr. Kim introduced a wide range of applications that are no longer science fiction but are rapidly emerging areas of research. He also explained the basic building blocks of quantum computing, such as qubits, Hadamard gates, and the Schrödinger equation, contrasting classical digital computing with the probabilistic and multidimensional nature of quantum systems.

The seminar concluded with a lively Q&A session, where Dr. Kim addressed questions with clarity and enthusiasm, leaving students and faculty inspired and curious about the possibilities of the quantum future.

Written by Student Reporter, Onyinyechi Achi
(onyinyechi.achi@stonybrook.edu)