For the first time ever, a global physics team was able to successfully manipulate a few light particles, or photons, that are strongly related to each other.
Quantum Breakthrough
This success is a vital quantum breakthrough, as it could enable technology that the world currently has not dreamt of. Think of lasers that have quantum sensitivity and that can be used for medical imaging.
Sahand Mahmoodian, a physicist from the University of Sydney, says that this leads to the opportunity to manipulate what is known as quantum light, as reported by Science Alert. This vital science paves paths for the advancement of measurement methods and quantum computing that are enhanced by quantum physics.
Though physicists are becoming great at manipulating atoms with quantum entanglement, it is remarkably harder to achieve the same thing with quantum light.
Photon Manipulation
The study was published in the Nature Physics journal. In this study, scientists from the University of Sydney and the University of Basel in Switzerland fired a pair of photos that were bound and a single photon toward a quantum dot, which is an artificial atom. They were able to measure the direct time delay between the single photon and the bound ones.
According to SciTechDaily, Natasha Tomm, a joint lead author of the study and a physicist from the University of Basel, said that the device they made led to strong photon interactions that were able to distinguish one photon interacting compared to two. They observed that the single photon had a longer time delay compared to the pair. With the strong interaction between the photons, the two particles get entangled into a two-photon bound state.
The team set up the bound state with stimulated emission, which was first described in 1916 by Albert Einstein. It also serves as the basis for present-day lasers. Within a laser, a light source or electrical current is utilized to excite the electrons inside the atoms of optical items, such as crystal or glass.
The excitement bumps the electrons into orbit within the nucleus. When they cool and revert back to their original state, they then release energy that comes in the form of photons. These are the stimulated emissions. Such a process means that the resultant photons have the same wavelengths, unlike typical white light that comprises various color frequencies.
The researchers then use a mirror to bounce the new and old photons toward the atoms. This stimulates the production of more identical light particles.
Such photons have a uniform movement. Their movements are at the same speed and they gear toward the same direction. The particles build up and eventually overcome the optical medium and mirrors. Photons then blast free in an organized light beam that can remain focused even over long distances.
All of this takes place within milliseconds of pushing the later pointer button. This distinct light-matter interaction serves as the basis for remarkable technology, such as medical imaging, GPS, computers, and international communication networks.
However, because of their photon requirements, their sensitivities are limited.
Quantum Light
The new quantum breakthrough was able to achieve stimulated emission and single or group photon detection. This leads to a strong correlation or quantum light.
Mahmoodian says that, by showing how it is possible to pinpoint and manipulate photon-bound states, they have taken the first step toward fostering quantum light for practical applications. Further steps would include using the methods to generate light states that can enable better quantum computing devices.
Tomm notes that they may be able to use the same principles for the development of efficient devices that offer photon-bound states. This shows remarkable potential in various applications, including biology, advanced manufacturing, and quantum information processing.
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