NIST Develops Advanced Spectrometer for Measuring Single Photons
Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have created a highly precise spectrometer capable of measuring the properties of single photons with unprecedented accuracy. This invention could be crucial for developing secure quantum communications networks that use individual particles of light to transmit information.
The NIST spectrometer measures photons’ spectral properties – essentially their color – 10,000 times more precisely than conventional spectrometers. This level of precision is necessary for building effective quantum repeaters, which would be essential for quantum networks that could span the globe.
The spectrometer uses a technique called electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), which involves beaming two lasers at atoms to create a narrow transparent hole through which only photons of a very specific wavelength can pass. By adjusting the second laser’s wavelength, the team can move this hole across the dark line’s width, allowing them to make highly precise measurements of a passing photon’s wavelength.
The NIST spectrometer’s performance is 10,000 times better than typical conventional spectrometers, with a spectrum 10 million times narrower than a common laser pointer. This level of precision could be crucial for developing effective quantum repeaters and advancing secure quantum communications networks.
Keywords: photon, spectrometer, wavelength, repeater, single-photon
