Sunlight creates quantum entanglement once thought to require lasers
Scientists have generated quantum entanglement directly from sunlight, potentially offering a lower-energy alternative to the lasers normally used in quantum technology.
Scientists have generated quantum entanglement directly from sunlight, potentially offering a lower-energy alternative to the lasers normally used in quantum technology.
The short version
- Their outdoor experiment produced entangled photons with about 94% similarity to an ideal state.
- The result could pave the way for simpler quantum satellites, secure communications, and more energy-efficient quantum computing.
- Many of today's quantum technologies depend on powerful lasers that consume significant amounts of energy.
What happened
As these systems grow larger and more widespread, their electricity requirements could become an increasing concern. Researchers have now demonstrated a striking alternative: sunlight itself can be used to generate quantum entanglement between photons.
Why it matters
"Quantum entanglement is crucial for applications such as secure communication, ultra-precise sensing and high-performance computation," said Cheng Li, a recent graduate of the University of Ottawa in Canada.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at ScienceDaily — Top Science via the links above and below.