Researchers at the University of Bonn have discovered a groundbreaking method to shape the behavior of ‘super photons’ – a collective state of thousands of light particles. This breakthrough could pave the way for secure, quantum-based communication, making eavesdropping virtually impossible.
Sculpting the Light Fantastic
So let us think about being able to mould and shape light at the level of its very building blocks. And that is exactly what researchers at the University of Bonn did. They can make the ‘super photon’ that forms carry a particular lattice structure by introducing tiny nano molds into the reflecting surfaces that trap atoms in a Bose-Einstein condensate made of photons.
This is comparable in some way to sticking a mold into the sandbox, with the resulting tip remaining after removal of the mold. In the case of super photons, since a network of connected string fragments consists only of four intersection points (highlighted), subsequently preventing any light to be trapped into more complex lattices. This accomplishment breaks new grounds on the possibilities to control and handle light behaviour from a quantum perspective.
The Quest for Quantum Entanglement
Yet the real gem of this discovery is its ability to offer quantum-proof communications. These particles of light, when packed closely enough together in the lattice, can interact with each other via their quantum mechanical nature — a process called quantum entanglement.
This implies that the light state in one “cup” of the lattice will spontaneously affect light from other cups. The photons have a quantum correlation between them that is necessary for securing communication among many participants entirely safe – unbeatable.
With more work on the reflective surfaces, they hope to fabricate even more complex Bose-Einstein condensates containing 20, 30 or more ‘cups’. This permits a seemingly unlimited number of endpoints to participate in confidential quantum communications or transactions with any other endpoint without anyone else being able to listen in or intercept.
Conclusion
The project done at the University of Bonn has opened new horizons, and the researchers achieved remarkable success in quantum communication. They have created a monster that anyone is very welcome to try and catch, as, for example, in the distant future it might be used to establish secure quantum communication. The discovery could lead to much broader applications, from safeguarding sensitive information and protecting transactions to opening up entirely new avenues for quantum-based computing and information processing. This discovery is now opening doors, and with the technology still advancing at speed, we can expect to see many more innovations in the future from this groundbreaking development.
