| Mar 21, 2025 |
A new study has achieved unprecedented precision in detecting tiny shifts in light displacements at the nanoscale. This is relevant for example in the characterisation of birefringent materials and in high-precision measurements of rotations.
(Nanowerk News) A study, led by the University of Portsmouth, has achieved unprecedented precision in detecting tiny shifts in light displacements at the nanoscale. This is relevant for example in the characterisation of birefringent materials and in high-precision measurements of rotations.
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The University’s Quantum Science and Technology Hub has unveiled a new method in quantum sensing. The breakthrough, published in the journal Physical Review A (“Momentum-entangled two-photon interference for quantum-limited transverse-displacement estimation”), has the potential to revolutionise many aspects of daily life, industry, and science.
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Imagine two photons, massless particles of light, that are intertwined in a unique way, meaning their propagation is connected even when they are separated. When these photons pass through a device that splits the particles of light into two paths – known as a beam-splitter – they interfere with each other in special patterns. By analysing these patterns, researchers have developed a highly precise method to detect even the tiniest initial spatial shifts between them.
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This research, funded by the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research, has developed a technique that suggests quantum interference could enable the highest possible precision in detecting such displacements, surpassing traditional measurement techniques.
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What makes this proposed method even more remarkable is its ability to maintain accuracy regardless of the size of the displacement, making it highly reliable for tracking changes over time.
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Study Principal Investigator and co-author Professor Vincenzo Tamma, Director of the University of Portsmouth’s Quantum Science and Technology Hub, said: “This development in quantum sensing represents a significant step towards making high-precision measurement tools more practical and accessible, with far-reaching implications across multiple fields.
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“By understanding the quantum nature of the world around us, we can go beyond classical physics and the capabilities of classical devices. This latest study helps us better exploit the quantum laws that govern our Universe and, in particular, quantum interference and entanglement to develop quantum technologies.”
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The study also found that even simple and inexpensive detectors – known as bucket detectors – can effectively estimate small displacements. This means that high-precision quantum measurements could be achieved without the need for costly, complex equipment, making advanced sensing technology more accessible across various industries.
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Professor Tamma explained: “Currently, many quantum sensing technologies are limited to high-end laboratories due to their complexity and cost.
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“By developing methods that achieve the ultimate quantum sensitivity with simpler, more affordable equipment, this research brings us closer to integrating quantum sensing into mainstream applications.”
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The study, which was included in the journal’s Editors Suggestions, promises that the best precision possible in nature can be achieved in the near future in real world scenarios.
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“We have shown this technique is feasible and efficient for real-world application”, added Professor Tamma. “Leading experimental groups have been already collaborating with us in putting the quantum sensing techniques developed in our Quantum Science and Technology Hub to the test and make such technologies a reality. I am also looking forward to seeing this more recent sensing scheme experimentally released in the near future.”
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Quantum superposition (the ability of a particle to be in a superposition of two states at the same time), entanglement between two particles (the ability to instantaneously change the state of one particle by measuring its entangled counterpart, even at large distances), and quantum interference (in which particles interfere as waves) have puzzled scientists around the world for over a century, including Einstein.
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