Professor Hassan Padamsee from Cornell University and Fermilab invites the general public to enjoy the musical The Night Light Became Quantum & A Duet of Light and Laughter, which consists of two short scenes from the Musical “Quantum Lovers” by Prof. Hasan Padamsee.

The event will last 45 minutes, including an introduction by Prof. Padamsee.

In Scene 1: The Night Light Became Quantum

Einstein and Mileva sit at a wooden table cluttered with scattered papers and scientific journals. The conversation turns to the puzzling results of the photoelectric effect. Albert paces excitedly, then broods at the table, when suddenly—his eyes widen with realization. He posits the radical quantum idea that will shake the foundations of physics. Mileva listens intently, questioning his reasoning. She pushes him on the implications.

In Scene 2: A Duet of Light and Laughter

“So, light is proper at times, traveling in waves, yet at other times, it’s just a scatterbrained little particle?” Mileva teases. Albert, catching her playful tone, grins. “It cannot decide—wave or particle, particle or wave!” What begins as a joke turns into an impromptu duet. With exaggerated flourishes, they mimic light’s absurd identity crisis—Mileva swaying like a smooth, undulating wave, Albert hopping like a jittery particle. The performance dissolves into shared exhilaration, both unaware of how this paradox will challenge physicists for decades to come.

The 2-hour musical was performed live in Chicago in August 2023.

To attend the event online, please Join the Zoom Meeting

Date and time: February 20, 2025, at 11:30 am Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Meeting ID: 839 8632 0302

Passcode: 325331