Modern technology has just taken a new step in understanding the mysterious world of quantum particles. A group of renowned researchers has unveiled an innovative method for visualizing the wave function of entangled particles, providing a never-before-seen perspective on the quantum state.
The principle of entanglement, at the heart of quantum mechanics, is often illustrated by the analogy of a pair of shoes. When we discover a shoe, we instantly determine the nature of its pair, independently of its position in the universe. However, what really fascinates researchers is the inherent uncertainty of this process until the precise moment of observation.
The wave function, on the other hand, offers a comprehensive overview of the quantum state of a particle. For example, it could provide information on whether a shoe is left or right, its size, color, etc. It is essential to predict the probable results of different measurements on a quantum entity.
The complexity of quantum tomography
Characterizing the wave function of a quantum system, often called quantum tomography, is an extremely complex task. Conventional approaches require a large number of measurements, making the process long and laborious, sometimes taking days.
The research group has previously shown that with these traditional methods, the quality of the result is highly sensitive to noise and depends on the complexity of the experimental setup.
Digital holography: a new perspective
In the field of classical optics, the reconstruction of a 3D object can be carried out thanks to digital holography. This method is based on the recording of a single image obtained by causing the light scattered by the object to interfere with a reference light.
Alessio D’Errico, a researcher at the University of Ottawa and one of the paper’s co-authors, highlighted the immense benefits of this innovative approach: “This method is exponentially faster than previous techniques, requiring only minutes or seconds instead of days. It is important to note that the detection time is not influenced by the complexity of the system, which is a solution to the scalability problem that has long arisen in the field of projective tomography.“.
Implications and future applications
The results of this research have profound implications not only for the academic community but also for the future of quantum technologies. With this new technique, advances in the field could be accelerated, paving the way for better characterizations of quantum states and new quantum imaging techniques.
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Quantum tomography research has reached a new milestone with the proposal of a method based on digital holography. This technique, much faster than traditional approaches, could be the catalyst for the next great advances in the quantum world.
For a better understanding
What is quantum entanglement?
It is a phenomenon where two particles become interdependent, so that the state of one immediately determines the state of the other, no matter how far apart they are.
What is the importance of the wave function in quantum mechanics?
It gives a complete description of the quantum state of a particle and is crucial in predicting the likely results of various measurements on that particle.
What is quantum tomography?
It is the process of characterizing the wave function of a quantum system.
What are the challenges of conventional quantum tomography?
It requires a large number of measurements, is sensitive to noise and depends on the complexity of the experimental setup.
Based on digital holography, this method is much faster and more efficient, requiring only minutes or seconds to obtain accurate results.
The impact of this research goes beyond the academic community. It has the potential to accelerate advances in quantum technology, such as improved quantum state characterization, quantum communication, and the development of new quantum imaging techniques.
The study “Interferometric imaging of amplitude and phase of spatial biphoton states “north_eastexternal link was published in Nature Photonics on August 14, 2023.
Legend: a) Image of coincidence of the interference between a reference SPDC state and a state obtained by a pump beam having the shape of a Ying and Yang symbol (indicated in the box). The scale of the inset is the same as that of the main graphic. b, reconstructed amplitude and phase structure of the image printed on the unknown pump. Credit: Credit: Nature Photonics (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41566-023-01272-3
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