While scientists do have the applied science to detect individual photons , the photon itself is absorb and altered . A new technique has allowed physicist to detect the photon without changing any of its properties . This technique was develop by researchers in theQuantum Dynamics Divisionat theMax Planck Institute of Quantum Opticsand was release inScience Express .
The biggest downside to destroy photons by measuring them is that it is impossible to conduct multiple experiment with them . to boot , absorb photon spay the shape and polarisation , preventing scientists from observing the Inner Light as it naturally occurs . This new manner of catching reflect the photon off of the sensor , allow the photon in quantum superposition principle . The twist is successful at detecting undivided photon 74 % of the fourth dimension and has a 66 % success rate of leave the photon entire . This has been a major destination for optics research and the ability to detect photons without wipe out them will lead to machine that can detect individual photon more sensitively .
Theability to keep photons intactis accomplished by excogitate the particle off of a atomic number 37 atom in a mirrored caries with a lightheaded laser Inner Light . This force the atom into two ground states . The first ground state does not come across with either the photon or the cavity , while the 2nd state does . Because of these two distinct state , the photon has special properties that are not seen when either state occurs alone . The photon is then reflect out of the cavity , completely unscathed . The researchers were able to detect that the rubidium atom had been affected by the photon and used the change get by a phase chemise to determine that a photon had , in fact , been present .
This technique has the ability to revolutionize how visual measurements are take . Without damaging photon , researchers will be able to design experiment that allow a single photon to engage in multiple measuring exercises . Additionally , this could affect quantum communication by allowing a photon to travel and be detected without alter any information . Additionally , this technique could be used to grow quantum logic gate ; the element for a quantum computation .
