Discovery The Life Scientific: Peter Knight
Jan 26, 2026
Peter Knight, Emeritus Professor at Imperial College London and pioneering quantum physicist. He recounts the birth of quantum optics and what makes quantum behavior so strange. He explores entanglement, superposition, and real-world tools like entanglement cameras. He explains the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme and how quantum computers could transform chemistry, energy and hard computational problems.
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Superposition Powers Everyday Tech
- Quantum superposition lets systems occupy multiple states simultaneously and underpins many technologies we use today.
- Sir Peter Knight highlights atomic clocks and GPS as everyday benefits of exploiting superposition.
Student Promoter Who Booked Pink Floyd
- As a student Sir Peter Knight booked major rock bands for the university, giving Pink Floyd their first gig outside London.
- He kept the old low-value contracts as mementos from those days, showing his extracurricular influence.
Switching From Lab Work To Theory
- Early in his PhD Sir Peter Knight realised he was better suited to theoretical work than complex experiments.
- He switched to theory, much to his colleagues' relief, and built a career as a theorist embedded with experimental groups.