The first image of quantum entanglement captured by British physicists. Pictures from the Internet
British physicists have taken a picture of quantum entanglement for the first time, capturing visual evidence of this elusive phenomenon. The latest research is expected to promote the development of quantum computing and other fields, physicist organization network reported recently.
In the field of quantum mechanics, two interacting particles -- for example, two photons passing through a beam splitter, no matter how far apart they are, can still 'entangle' together in a very strange way and instantly share their physical states. This connection is called quantum entanglement, which is one of the basic phenomena in the field of quantum mechanics. Einstein once called it 'ghost like over distance action'.
Today, although quantum entanglement plays a great role in practical applications such as quantum computing and cryptography, it has never been captured by a single image. In the latest study, physicists at the University of Glasgow set up a complex experiment to capture quantum entanglement with an image.
The researchers designed a system that emits a bunch of entangled photons from a quantum light source towards the 'unconventional material' displayed on the liquid crystal material. These liquid crystal materials will change the phase of the photons as they pass through.
They placed an ultra sensitive camera that could detect a single photon. When seeing the photon and its entangled 'twins' appear at the same time, the camera took an image, leaving a precious image for photon entanglement for the first time. The obtained image always shows that the two photons seem to reflect each other and form a ring shape.
The first author of the paper, Paul Anthony & middot, School of physics and astronomy, University of Glasgow; Dr. morrow said: "this image is an elegant display of the basic properties of nature. Quantum entanglement is seen in the form of an image for the first time. This result can promote the development of emerging fields of quantum computing and give birth to new imaging technologies and devices."