About - Quantum@Home
Quantum@Home demonstrates small, home-scale physics experiments. It uses off-the-shelf, low-cost detectors and instruments that provide live data related to quantum events. All hardware is connected to the web server in Bladel, the Netherlands.
The Natural Radiation experiment is connected to a GQ GMC-300S detector near the web server in Bladel, the Netherlands. It shows live detections, current and long-term counts, the counts-per-minute distribution, data-coverage status, and information reported by the detector.
The Quantum Randomness experiment contains a timed byte-distribution experiment designed for a Crypta Labs Cicada 0.5 USB quantum random number generator. It shows experiment status, elapsed time, bytes processed, the observed mean and distribution spread, the frequencies of all 256 possible byte values, and information about the QRNG.
The Schrödinger’s Cat experiment uses the same QRNG to simulate the decay time of a single rubidium-82 nucleus. It visualizes Schrödinger’s thought experiment by linking that simulated decay to the fate of a virtual cat in a virtual box. The box opens automatically after one 75-second half-life and reveals the cat as alive or dead.
The Atomic Spectrum experiment observes a continuously operating neon discharge lamp with a Thunder Optics Mini USB Spectrometer. It shows the live camera spectrum, spectral lines detected independently from the measured data, and strong neutral-neon reference wavelengths from NIST. The discrete emission-line pattern makes the quantized energy structure of neon atoms directly visible.
The site is intended for interested non-specialists. Each experiment page explains what is being measured, where the quantum behavior enters, and what the displayed values mean.
Design principles
- The physical measurement path is live. Where an experiment is presented as live, the displayed measurement originates from hardware operating at that time. Saved fallback data, when used, is identified as such.
- Missing data is not estimated. Recorded subtotals may be shown as partial, but gaps are never filled by extrapolation.
- Coverage matters. Long-term averages use only periods with sufficiently complete live-detector coverage.
- Measurement and reference are kept separate. Reference data may be shown for comparison, but it does not feed back into blind measurement or detection algorithms.
- The experiments remain inspectable. Status, hardware details, time ranges, expected values, sensitivity or coverage information, and relevant measurement limitations are shown directly on the page or documented in the Help pages.
Implementation summary
- Project lead: Kees van Zon
- Collaborators: OpenAI ChatGPT: GPT-5.5 High, OpenAI Codex: GPT-5.5 High
- Web-server hardware: MinisForum GD70
- Web-server software: Microsoft Internet Information Services 10.0 on Windows 11
- Website technology: C# ASP.NET Core Razor Pages
- Natural-radiation detector: GQ GMC-300S Geiger counter
- Quantum-randomness hardware: Crypta Labs Cicada 0.5 USB QRNG
- Schrödinger’s-cat experiment: QRNG-driven simulation of a rubidium-82 nucleus decay
- Atomic-spectrum hardware: Thunder Optics Mini USB Spectrometer with a continuously operating neon discharge lamp
- Time basis: Europe/Amsterdam local calendar; UTC timestamps retained internally where needed
- Documentation: Markdown files loaded through the shared Help pages
- Languages: English, Dutch, German, and Spanish