Researchers at the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) have made a groundbreaking discovery in quantum physics by observing photons traveling at seemingly faster-than-light speeds through a stack of materials. By adding a single, strategically placed layer to a stack of approximately 30 alternating high and low refractive index layers, the researchers were able to control the transit time of photons through the stack.
The key to this discovery lies in the wave properties of light. When a photon hits the boundary between the layers, it creates waves at each surface, and the traveling light waves interfere with each other. With the layers arranged just right, the interfering light waves combine to give rise to transmitted photons that emerge early, creating the illusion of faster-than-light speeds. However, no faster-than-light information transfer occurs, as only a small proportion of photons make it through the stack.
This study, published in Optics Express, has significant implications for our understanding of quantum physics and could potentially lead to breakthroughs in fields such as quantum computing and quantum communication.
Keywords: photons, quantum, layer, photons
