Information stored in quantum states of water fragments

J 2017

Information stored in quantum states of water fragments

VORÁČ, Jan, Petr SYNEK, Vojtěch PROCHÁZKA and Tomáš HODER

Basic information

Original name

Information stored in quantum states of water fragments

Authors

VORÁČ, Jan (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Petr SYNEK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Vojtěch PROCHÁZKA (203 Czech Republic) and Tomáš HODER (203 Czech Republic)

Edition

Europhysicsnews, 2017, 1432-1092

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10305 Fluids and plasma physics

Country of publisher

France

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/17:00095203

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

Keywords in English

OH; rotational distribution; quantum states; water fragments; memory

Abstract

V originále

Does water have memory? Well, not in the usual sense. But it is known, that if you tear water molecules apart, the remaining fragments can tell you a story about how it happened. To inves- tigate this phenomenon, a plasma reactor producing miniature lightnings in direct contact with water level was constructed. The electrical discharges are powerful enough to cause dis- sociation of water molecules in various ways. To facilitate the electrical breakdown, the atmosphere in the reactor was re- placed by argon. The water molecule can be broken by impact of sufficiently fast electron, absorption of deep UV photon or previously ex- cited argon atom. Each of these processes has a different en- ergy balance and the remaining energy is partially conserved in quantum states of the water fragments. By careful analysis of the light emitted by the relaxing OH radicals, we can dis- entangle the respective contributions to the total spectrum and calculate the portion of water molecules undergoing various dissociation mechanisms. The water fragments really remember what preceded their creation and they let us know by emitting photons. The time scale for "forgetting" depends on the collisional rate, i.e. the pressure. At atmospheric pressure, the information can be kept for several nanoseconds.

Links

GJ16-09721Y, research and development project

Name: Pokročilé experimentální studium přechodných povrchových výbojů

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

LO1411, research and development project

Name: Rozvoj centra pro nízkonákladové plazmové a nanotechnologické povrchové úpravy (Acronym: CEPLANT plus)

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR

Citovat

VORÁČ, Jan, Petr SYNEK, Vojtěch PROCHÁZKA and Tomáš HODER. Information stored in quantum states of water fragments. Europhysicsnews. 2017, vol. 48, 5-6, p. 16. ISSN 1432-1092.

@article{1397023,
   author = {Voráč, Jan and Synek, Petr and Procházka, Vojtěch and Hoder, Tomáš},
   article_number = {5-6},
   keywords = {OH; rotational distribution; quantum states; water fragments; memory},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {1432-1092},
   journal = {Europhysicsnews},
   title = {Information stored in quantum states of water fragments},
   url = {http://www.europhysicsnews.org/articles/epn/pdf/2017/05/epn2017-48-5-6.pdf},
   volume = {48},
   year = {2017}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1397023
AU  - Voráč, Jan - Synek, Petr - Procházka, Vojtěch - Hoder, Tomáš
PY  - 2017
TI  - Information stored in quantum states of water fragments
JF  - Europhysicsnews
VL  - 48
IS  - 5-6
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SN  - 14321092
KW  - OH
KW  - rotational distribution
KW  - quantum states
KW  - water fragments
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UR  - http://www.europhysicsnews.org/articles/epn/pdf/2017/05/epn2017-48-5-6.pdf
L2  - http://www.europhysicsnews.org/articles/epn/pdf/2017/05/epn2017-48-5-6.pdf
N2  - Does water have memory? Well, not in the usual sense. But it is known, that if you tear water molecules apart, the remaining fragments can tell you a story about how it happened. To inves- tigate this phenomenon, a plasma reactor producing miniature lightnings in direct contact with water level was constructed. The electrical discharges are powerful enough to cause dis- sociation of water molecules in various ways. To facilitate the electrical breakdown, the atmosphere in the reactor was re- placed by argon. The water molecule can be broken by impact of sufficiently fast electron, absorption of deep UV photon or previously ex- cited argon atom. Each of these processes has a different en- ergy balance and the remaining energy is partially conserved in quantum states of the water fragments. By careful analysis of the light emitted by the relaxing OH radicals, we can dis- entangle the respective contributions to the total spectrum and calculate the portion of water molecules undergoing various dissociation mechanisms. The water fragments really remember what preceded their creation and they let us know by emitting photons. The time scale for "forgetting" depends on the collisional rate, i.e. the pressure. At atmospheric pressure, the information can be kept for several nanoseconds.
ER  -

VORÁČ, Jan, Petr SYNEK, Vojtěch PROCHÁZKA and Tomáš HODER. Information stored in quantum states of water fragments. \textit{Europhysicsnews}. 2017, vol.~48, 5-6, p.~16. ISSN~1432-1092.

Detailed Information on Publication Record