LSU Physicists Create First Room-Temperature Quantum Material (sciencealert.com) 14
Researchers at Louisiana State University have created a room-temperature quantum material made from a thin gold film on glass, patterned with microscopic slits that act like artificial atoms. "We call this robust transport. These quantum states carry information," says physicist Omar Magana-Loaiza. "Our crystal can distinguish them and move them from one point to another in a robust way without requiring cryogenic cooling. That's what opens the door to practical quantum technologies." ScienceAlert reports: Crucial to the new material's room-temperature operation is the way it shifts the focus from electrons and atoms to photons (particles of light). This overcomes the usual atomic-level disruption that heat brings with it. The material is what's known as a plasmonic metacrystal: 'Plasmonic' because the light traveling over it makes ripples of electrons known as plasmons, and 'metacrystal' because it's an artificially created crystal. The tiny slit patterns etched into the material act as artificial atoms (meta-atoms), which dictate how different photon groups pass through (the quantum behavior).
"By engineering the distribution of meta-atoms in the plasmonic metacrystal, we can systematically dictate which quantum statistics are allowed to pass through the structure," says physicist Riley Dawkins. "So, our crystal essentially acts as a statistical filter on quantum states." That means as light enters the chip and travels across the gold surface, it's manipulated by the meta-atoms -- and by tweaking the size, shape, and spacing of the slits, different end results can be produced at the quantum level. In practice, this means that certain quantum states of light can be transported with less disruption. The findings have been published in the journal Nature.
"By engineering the distribution of meta-atoms in the plasmonic metacrystal, we can systematically dictate which quantum statistics are allowed to pass through the structure," says physicist Riley Dawkins. "So, our crystal essentially acts as a statistical filter on quantum states." That means as light enters the chip and travels across the gold surface, it's manipulated by the meta-atoms -- and by tweaking the size, shape, and spacing of the slits, different end results can be produced at the quantum level. In practice, this means that certain quantum states of light can be transported with less disruption. The findings have been published in the journal Nature.
Re: Amazing (Score:2)
curious.
what is s t p.
when z equals any lagrange point
Re: (Score:2)
Yup. Amazing. [slashdot.org]
Re: (Score:2)
Whoops, meant to reply to AC OP. Point is, it's a dupe.
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They did this twice within the same week!
But this is the first time. The other article was the result of a delayed choice quantum eraser.
Darn, read it wrong (Score:3)
Darn, read it wrong. I first skimmed the title on the front page and thought we had our first super*conducting* material at room temperature which I feel would have been far more interesting for society.
But this is koo tho too
"of it's kind" (Score:3, Informative)
The second time [slashdot.org] that the headline has missed the important distinction that it's the first of it's kind, not the first "Room-Temperature Quantum Material" in general.
Specifically, it's the "first class of room-temperature quantum materials that are intrinsically sensitive to the quantum statistical properties defining all forms of light."
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it's the first of it's kind
Going to mod you down for improper apostrophe use. Sorry but you need to learn.
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Well, good job too them for figuring it out... now, the big question is: what is it good for?
Sure, quantum computing might be great for encrypting stuff... but is it any good for regular usage? Plus, encrypting your files with quantum cryptography would be really secure... but once you add AI to your computer, what prevents the AI from encrypting your harddrive using the quantum stuff without your user account having the key?
Also, everyone needs to know... can it run Doom?
In the article (Score:3)
More generally, the unconventional behavior of quantum materials promises to be useful in computing, communications (including the quantum internet), and energy – in harvesting more power from sunlight through solar panels, for instance.
The solar cell angle is the one the researchers plan to investigate next, using their new plasmonic metacrystal to better guide incoming light and lose less of it as heat.
Re: (Score:1)
You didn't actually say anything in your post
So... by your post that doesn't say thing... you're thinking they're going to use these plasmonic metacrystals to make solar cells... I assume the goal is increasing output... which won't matter using what you say to use.