Quantum Physics

_{Focus Areas · Design document §3}

Available from: NP02 + MA08 (Corpuscular/atomic worlds only — see Quintessic Physics for the elemental equivalent)

14 breakthroughs — CORE 6 · STANDARD 7 · RARE 1 — Modern – Space

Builds on: Mathematics (6) · Mechanics (1) · Optics (2) · Electricity (3) · Nuclear Physics (1) · Relativity & Cosmology (1) · Rocketry (1) · Materials Science (1) · Genetics (1)

Leads into: Optics (1) · Electronics (2) · Computing (1) · Nuclear Physics (3) · Relativity & Cosmology (6) · Rocketry (1) · Materials Science (4) · Genetics (1) · Energy Systems (3)

_{The numbers count prerequisite links between this focus and the other. How to read the tables.}

Overview

ID	Breakthrough	Tier	Era	Prerequisites
QP01	Wave-Particle Duality	CORE	Modern	NP02 + OP03 (Telescope)
QP02	Quantum Mechanics Formalism	CORE	Atomic	QP01 + MA05 + MA13 (Topology — set theory)
QP04	Particle Accelerator	CORE	Atomic	QP02 + EL03 + EL07 (Power Grid)
QP05	Quantum Field Theory	CORE	Atomic	QP02 + EL03 + MA13 (Topology)
QP06	Standard Model Completion	STANDARD	Atomic	QP05 + QP04
QP07	Quantum Entanglement Mastery	CORE	Space	QP02 + OP07 (Laser)
QP08	Quantum Gravity Theory	CORE	Space	QP05 + RC01 (Relativity) + QP04 (Particle Accelerator)
QP09	String Theory Validation	STANDARD	Space	QP08 + MA13 + QP04
QP10	Loop Quantum Gravity	STANDARD	Space	QP08 + MA08
QP11	Exotic Matter Synthesis	STANDARD	Space	QP08 + QP12 (Casimir Effect Amplification) + MS02 (Nanotechnology)
QP12	Casimir Effect Amplification	STANDARD	Space	QP05 + MC10 (Precision Machining)
QP13	Hidden Variable Discovery	RARE	Space	QP02 + QP07 (Entanglement Mastery) + MA13 (Topology — set theory)
QP14	Quantum Communication	STANDARD	Space	(QP07 or GN10) + RK16
QP15	Beyond the Standard Model	STANDARD	Space	QP08 (Quantum Gravity Theory) + QP06 (Standard Model Completion)

Prerequisite map

flowchart LR
  n_QP01["QP01 Wave-Particle Duality"]:::CORE
  n_QP02["QP02 Quantum Mechanics Formalism"]:::CORE
  n_QP04["QP04 Particle Accelerator"]:::CORE
  n_QP06["QP06 Standard Model Completion"]:::STANDARD
  n_QP15["QP15 Beyond the Standard Model"]:::STANDARD
  n_QP08["QP08 Quantum Gravity Theory"]:::CORE
  n_QP09["QP09 String Theory Validation"]:::STANDARD
  n_QP10["QP10 Loop Quantum Gravity"]:::STANDARD
  n_QP11["QP11 Exotic Matter Synthesis"]:::STANDARD
  n_QP05["QP05 Quantum Field Theory"]:::CORE
  n_QP12["QP12 Casimir Effect Amplification"]:::STANDARD
  n_QP07["QP07 Quantum Entanglement Mastery"]:::CORE
  n_QP13["QP13 Hidden Variable Discovery"]:::RARE
  n_QP14["QP14 Quantum Communication"]:::STANDARD
  n_QP01 --> n_QP02
  n_QP02 --> n_QP04
  n_QP02 --> n_QP05
  n_QP05 --> n_QP06
  n_QP04 --> n_QP06
  n_QP02 --> n_QP07
  n_QP05 --> n_QP08
  n_QP04 --> n_QP08
  n_QP08 --> n_QP09
  n_QP04 --> n_QP09
  n_QP08 --> n_QP10
  n_QP08 --> n_QP11
  n_QP12 --> n_QP11
  n_QP05 --> n_QP12
  n_QP02 --> n_QP13
  n_QP07 --> n_QP13
  n_QP07 -.-> n_QP14
  n_QP08 --> n_QP15
  n_QP06 --> n_QP15
  classDef CORE fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#1d4ed8,color:#0b1b3b
  classDef STANDARD fill:#f1f5f9,stroke:#64748b,color:#0f172a
  classDef UNCOMMON fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#15803d,color:#052e16
  classDef RARE fill:#fef3c7,stroke:#b45309,color:#3b2005
  classDef UNIQUE fill:#fae8ff,stroke:#a21caf,color:#3b0a3f

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_{Prerequisites within this focus. Box colour is the tier (blue CORE, grey STANDARD, green UNCOMMON, amber RARE, purple UNIQUE); dotted arrows are alternatives (“or”); a line can pass behind another box, so follow it from its start. 12 of these 14 breakthroughs also need breakthroughs from other foci, which the overview above lists.}

Breakthroughs

QP01 · Wave-Particle Duality

• Tier: CORE · Era: Modern
• Prerequisites: NP02 + OP03 (Telescope)
• Unlocks: ⟨[+10]% Strength for cities⟩ (photoelectric sensors see an army coming). Foundation of quantum mechanics. Atomic worlds only; mirrored by Limiting Fineness (QM-E14).
• Leads to: EN02 Transistor, QP02 Quantum Mechanics Formalism

QP02 · Quantum Mechanics Formalism

• Tier: CORE · Era: Atomic
• Prerequisites: QP01 + MA05 + MA13 (Topology — set theory)
• Unlocks: ⟨Triggers a [Quantum Strangeness] event⟩ on discovery (the Science Advisor reports what the new mechanics implies); ⟨[Great Engineer] is earned [+10]% faster⟩ — engineering the very small. Semiconductor and laser theory: prerequisite for the Transistor (EN02) and the Laser (OP07).
• Leads to: OP07 Laser, EN09 Spintronics, NP-F04 Quantum Fission Cascade, QP04 Particle Accelerator, QP05 Quantum Field Theory, QP07 Quantum Entanglement Mastery, QP13 Hidden Variable Discovery, MS02 Nanotechnology / Fine Structuring, GN10 Bio-Quantum Coherence, ES07 Solar Panel

QP04 · Particle Accelerator

• Tier: CORE · Era: Atomic
• Prerequisites: QP02 + EL03 + EL07 (Power Grid)
• Unlocks: Particle Acceleratorⁿ [national wonder — every civilisation may build its own, since the FTL evidence must not be first-come; 750; +6 Science, +1 Happiness; ⟨[+15]% [Science] [in this city]⟩]. The great instrument of atomic physics: Quantum Gravity Theory (QP08) is built on its data (W17). It settles no FTL condition of its own (W1). Prerequisite for Antimatter Production (NP11). Mirrored by the Boundary Furnace (QM-E08).
• Leads to: NP11 Antimatter Production, NP12 Particle Laboratories, QP06 Standard Model Completion, QP08 Quantum Gravity Theory, QP09 String Theory Validation, RC08 Gravitational Coupling Experiment

QP05 · Quantum Field Theory

• Tier: CORE · Era: Atomic
• Prerequisites: QP02 + EL03 + MA13 (Topology)
• Unlocks: Read as HIGH_ENERGY_PHYSICS; +10% Insight to Electronics; prerequisite for the FTL paths, the Ion Drive (RK09) and Metamaterials (MS03). Quantum Electrodynamics, the first quantum field theory, merged here in v3.124. Mirrored by Unified Field Theory (QM-E04).
• Leads to: QP06 Standard Model Completion, QP08 Quantum Gravity Theory, QP12 Casimir Effect Amplification, RC04 Black Hole Thermodynamics, RK09 Ion Drive, MS03 Metamaterials

QP06 · Standard Model Completion

• Tier: STANDARD · Era: Atomic
• Prerequisites: QP05 + QP04
• Unlocks: Standard Model Instituteⁿ [national wonder; 1000; +6 Science, +3 Culture]. No longer hosts an FTL condition (W1: no answer before the Space era); still in Tachyonic's build. The search for a tachyonic sector beyond it is QP15 Beyond the Standard Model. Mirrored by the Complete Catalogue (QM-E17).
• Leads to: QP15 Beyond the Standard Model

QP07 · Quantum Entanglement Mastery

• Tier: CORE · Era: Space
• Prerequisites: QP02 + OP07 (Laser)
• Unlocks: ⟨All newly-trained [Water] units [in all cities] receive the [Quantum Sensor] promotion⟩ (Quantum Sensorⁿ: ⟨Can see invisible [Submarine] units⟩); ⟨[-25]% enemy spy effectiveness [in all cities]⟩ (<when espionage is enabled> — quantum keys). Prerequisite for Quantum Computing (CP10).
• Leads to: CP10 Quantum Computing, QP13 Hidden Variable Discovery, QP14 Quantum Communication

QP08 · Quantum Gravity Theory

• Tier: CORE · Era: Space
• Prerequisites: QP05 + RC01 (Relativity) + QP04 (Particle Accelerator)
• Unlocks: ⟨Reveal up to [all] [Strategic resource] within a [20] tile radius⟩ (a Triggerable on discovery — gravitational mapping); read as HIGH_ENERGY_PHYSICS; the critical node for Warp, Wormhole and Hyperspace FTL.
• Leads to: QP09 String Theory Validation, QP10 Loop Quantum Gravity, QP11 Exotic Matter Synthesis, QP15 Beyond the Standard Model, RC05 Dark Matter Identification, RC06 Dark Energy Understanding, RC07 Closed Timelike Curves, RC08 Gravitational Coupling Experiment, ES12 Zero-Point Energy

QP09 · String Theory Validation

• Tier: STANDARD · Era: Space
• Prerequisites: QP08 + MA13 + QP04
• Unlocks: Hosts extra dimensions exist (Warp and Hyperspace; a prove row, W4). Mutually exclusive with QP10 — if one validates, the other dead-ends. Mirrored by Higher Strata Theory (QM-E12).

QP10 · Loop Quantum Gravity

• Tier: STANDARD · Era: Space
• Prerequisites: QP08 + MA08
• Unlocks: Hosts spacetime is discrete (Tunnelling; a prove row, W4). Mutually exclusive with QP09 — discreteness excludes extra dimensions.

QP11 · Exotic Matter Synthesis

• Tier: STANDARD · Era: Space
• Prerequisites: QP08 + QP12 (Casimir Effect Amplification) + MS02 (Nanotechnology)
• Unlocks: Exotic Matter Labⁿ [1000/3; ⟨[+15]% Production when constructing [SS FTL Drive] units [in this city]⟩]; grants EXOTIC_MATTER; prerequisite for Warp and Wormhole FTL. Hosts exotic matter holds (merged into the Warp and Wormhole builds, W14): a failure rules both out. Mirrored by the Exotic Matter Forge (QM-E06).
• Leads to: MS08 Exotic Matter Engineering

QP12 · Casimir Effect Amplification

• Tier: STANDARD · Era: Space
• Prerequisites: QP05 + MC10 (Precision Machining)
• Unlocks: Prerequisite for Wormhole FTL and Zero-Point Energy (ES12). Mirrored by Aetheric Vacuum (QM-E13). Always works as science, whatever FQ4 (Vacuum Energy) decides: a throat is held open by the Casimir effect's negative energy, real in every world. Its report concerns vacuum energy, not the FTL method.
• Leads to: QP11 Exotic Matter Synthesis, MS17 Transformation Media, ES12 Zero-Point Energy

QP13 · Hidden Variable Discovery

• Tier: RARE · Era: Space
• Prerequisites: QP02 + QP07 (Entanglement Mastery) + MA13 (Topology — set theory)
• Unlocks: Determinist Instituteⁿ [national wonder; 1000; +8 Science]; ⟨[+10]% [Science] [in all cities]⟩; the Determinist Institute reveals every breakthrough as soon as the civilisation becomes eligible for it — once its prerequisites are discovered it is Revealed, and so can be pursued as a Grand Endeavour: what was luck becomes calculation (fork engine work). The Deterministic payoff of FQ5, made concrete as the design review asked.
• Notes: What if Bohm was right?

QP14 · Quantum Communication

• Tier: STANDARD · Era: Space
• Prerequisites: (QP07 or GN10) + RK16
• Unlocks: ⟨[+2 Gold] from each Trade Route⟩ — every route on the unhackable network. ⟨[-50]% enemy spy effectiveness [in all cities]⟩ (<when espionage is enabled> — unhackable). Hosts tunnelling carries information faster than light — the Hartman effect (Tunnelling; merged into its build, W14).
• Notes: Relocated from the former Communications focus.

QP15 · Beyond the Standard Model

• Tier: STANDARD · Era: Space
• Prerequisites: QP08 (Quantum Gravity Theory) + QP06 (Standard Model Completion)
• Unlocks: Hosts a tachyonic sector exists (atomic Tachyonic; a prove row, W4/W14). The Standard Model is complete and contains no tachyons; whether a tachyonic sector lies beyond it is a question for colliders not yet built — blocked by measurement, so it unlocks the Very Large Particle Colliderⁿ [national wonder — every civilisation may build its own; cost set at spec, about 3–6 turns of construction; +6 Science; 2 Scientist slots; a next-generation collider, as the proposed Future Circular Collider would be; on completion it settles the condition]. Mirrored by Beyond the Catalogue (QM-E28).
• Notes: W1/W14 — the test moved here from QP06 Standard Model Completion, an Atomic-era row; priced as a decider.