A groundbreaking theory explaining the interaction of light and matter at the quantum level has allowed researchers to accurately characterize the specific shape of an individual photon for the first time.
Research conducted at the University of Birmingham, published in Physical Review Letters, investigates the properties of photons (the fundamental particles of light) in remarkable detail. This study reveals how photons are produced by atoms or molecules and are influenced by their surrounding environment.
The complexities of this interaction create countless ways that light can exist and travel through different environments. However, this vast range of possibilities makes it extremely challenging to model these interactions, a problem that quantum physicists have been attempting to solve for many years.
By categorizing these possibilities into separate groups, the team at Birmingham successfully developed a model that describes the interactions between a photon and its source as well as how the energy from this interaction moves into what is known as the ‘far field.’
Simultaneously, they utilized their calculations to visualize the photon itself.
Dr. Benjamin Yuen, the lead author from the University’s School of Physics, explained, “Our calculations transformed a seemingly unsolvable issue into a computable one. As a byproduct of our model, we were also able to create an image of a photon, something previously unseen in physics.”
This research is significant as it paves the way for new inquiries in quantum physics and material science. With a clearer understanding of how photons interact with matter and their environments, scientists can develop innovative nanophotonic technologies that have the potential to revolutionize secure communication, pathogen detection, and molecular-level chemical reaction management.
Co-author Professor Angela Demetriadou, also from the University of Birmingham, commented, “The shape and optical characteristics of the environment greatly affect photon emissions, influencing their shape, color, and even their likelihood of existence.”
Dr. Benjamin Yuen added, “This research enhances our comprehension of energy exchange between light and matter, and improves our understanding of how light radiates into both nearby and faraway surroundings. Much of this information was previously dismissed as mere ‘noise’, but we can now extract valuable insights from it. By comprehending these interactions, we lay the groundwork for engineering light-matter interactions for future applications, including advanced sensors, enhanced photovoltaic cells, and quantum computing.”
