From: mk_thisisit
Polish physicist Michał Parniak has achieved significant advancements in quantum memory technology, creating states in quantum physics previously unachieved globally [00:00:00]. This development includes a record-breaking quantum memory in terms of capacity [01:00:00].
Development and Capacity
The project began around 2011, with Michał Parniak working on the memory as a PhD student with a team [01:01:08]. At the time, they were unaware that a similar memory was being developed in China [00:00:07], [01:16:00]. Upon publishing their results, it was discovered that their memory was three times more capacious [00:00:11], [01:23:00]. As of the recording, they still largely hold this record [02:20:00].
The memory functions by preparing a cloud of atoms in a vacuum, which are capable of absorbing light, specifically very weak quantum single photons [01:33:00]. This device is designed to remember a large number of photons simultaneously, store them for a period, and potentially even process them by performing certain quantum operations [00:00:14], [01:48:00].
The memory essentially acts as a specific type of quantum processor, capable of performing specialized operations on light [02:00:00]. Information about light is stored in the state of these atoms, particularly in their spins [05:14:00].
Applications and Broader Impact
This quantum memory has applications in various fields, including quantum metrology and quantum communication [02:09:00]. It enables the extraction of spectral information from photons, revealing the precise spectral lines of which a photon consists [06:32:00]. These spectral lines are imprints of molecules, for instance, from an atmosphere [06:56:00]. The technology allows for precise distinction between very close spectral lines [07:06:00].
The research also contributes to a deeper understanding of the differences between the classical and quantum worlds [07:12:00]. Michał Parniak’s work involves creating quantum states of increasingly macroscopic objects to probe the quantum-classical boundary [09:25:00], [09:33:00]. This includes experiments involving:
- Macroscopic Entanglement: The record-breaking memory’s ability to store many photons allowed for entangling many photons with those still stored in the memory, achieving macroscopic entanglement of an object of unprecedented size [03:31:00], [03:54:00]. Another experiment in Copenhagen involved entangling a mechanical membrane (drum) with atom spins, demonstrating a “hybrid” entanglement of incompatible systems [03:07:07], [04:26:00].
- Quantum-Classical Boundary: The research explores why objects with more particles suddenly behave deterministically differently, attempting to bridge the gap between quantum and classical descriptions [08:54:00]. Experiments aim to put mechanical objects, like a nanometer-thick membrane, into a quantum state, observing quantum fluctuations even at absolute zero temperature [011:46:00], [013:15:00].
Quantum Metrology and Future Potential
Quantum metrology is a practical field that builds systems to measure with enhanced precision by leveraging quantum mechanics to reduce quantum noise [016:04:00]. This “squeezing” technique involves reducing fluctuations in light where it matters, at the expense of increasing them where they do not [016:29:00].
This technology is already applied in:
- Gravitational Wave Detectors: Operating detectors in the US, Italy, and Japan use quantum light engineering to double the precision of gravitational wave measurements [016:51:00].
- Improving Measurements: The principles are applicable to various measurements, as every measurement has quantum limits [018:23:00].
The ability to extract and encode information more densely within the light spectrum holds significant promise for quantum information encoding and storage [019:08:00]. This could be extremely important for telecommunications, especially for long-distance optical fiber transmission, potentially increasing data transfer by tenfold [019:25:00]. Researchers are also exploring the use of microwave photons for encoding information [021:12:00].
“Understanding the structure of quantum information seems to bring us closer to how these quanta work” [00:39:00], [21:53:00].
Imaging and Astronomy
The advanced quantum memory device may also be used to improve microwave measurements and obtain more precise information from single photons [025:29:00]. This could lead to more accurate images of cosmic phenomena, such as the event horizon of a black hole [025:49:00]. Increasing detector size to the entire solar system by placing them in space could further enhance imaging capabilities [026:07:00].
Another astronomical application includes studying cosmic background radiation, a remnant of the Big Bang, which contains fluctuations that can predict many features of the universe [026:21:00]. While not entirely quantum physics, the goal is to measure these microwaves more precisely [027:05:00].