New Way to Confine Light Could Enable Retention of Quantum Memories Within Photons

Chinese scientists uncover a novel way of stopping light in a state that stores information encoded in photons, opening the door to applications in quantum information processing

A team of Chinese physicists has now developed a way to confine light. This is significant because the approach allows quantum memories stored within photons to be retained. These findings stem from a study by Nan Sun from Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, China, and colleagues, which has just been published in EPJ D. The results may herald the advent of a multitude of hybrid, optoelectronic devices relying on the use of quantum information stored in photons for processing information that can be used in communication networks or quantum computing.

Indeed, stopping and storing light for a duration ranging from a few seconds to a few minutes is key for quantum information processing. Unfortunately, certain media induce a loss of coherence of the light, due to effects of the surroundings, which, in turn, affects the integrity of the quantum information stored in photons. This new study focuses on understanding the propagation properties of the electromagnetic wave associated with light to learn how best to stop it.

Previous attempts at stopping light by Georg Heinze and colleagues from Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany, showed it was possible to stop light for an entire minute. They dramatically slowed down light’s progression via interaction within its propagation medium. In contrast, the authors here rely on electric and magnetic polarisation to predict the conditions under which light could be confined. The authors’ theoretical approach is based on controlling the speed at which the light’s energy flows in order to stop it. At the same time, they also predict what it takes in terms of energy density to reach a stage where the electromagnetic waves constitutive of light can be stored, particularly in a medium in which waves travel at different speeds or are absorbed.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Springer - Science and Technology Publishers. (2019, February 18). New Way to Confine Light Could Enable Retention of Quantum Memories Within Photons. AZoQuantum. Retrieved on December 13, 2024 from https://www.azoquantum.com/News.aspx?newsID=3835.

  • MLA

    Springer - Science and Technology Publishers. "New Way to Confine Light Could Enable Retention of Quantum Memories Within Photons". AZoQuantum. 13 December 2024. <https://www.azoquantum.com/News.aspx?newsID=3835>.

  • Chicago

    Springer - Science and Technology Publishers. "New Way to Confine Light Could Enable Retention of Quantum Memories Within Photons". AZoQuantum. https://www.azoquantum.com/News.aspx?newsID=3835. (accessed December 13, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Springer - Science and Technology Publishers. 2019. New Way to Confine Light Could Enable Retention of Quantum Memories Within Photons. AZoQuantum, viewed 13 December 2024, https://www.azoquantum.com/News.aspx?newsID=3835.

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this news story?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.