Researchers Control the Flip of Electron Spin

karvind writes "According to PhysOrg, physicists in Europe, California and at Ohio University now have found a way to manipulate the spin of an electron with a jolt of voltage from a battery. In this experiment voltage was applied to Indium Arsenide based quantum dot which flipped the spin of electron inside it and emitted a photon. The scientists were able to manipulate how long it would take for the electron to flip its spin and emit a photon - from one to 20 nanoseconds. This may have possible applications in optoelectronics and quantum cryptography. Results were published in the latest issue of Physics Review Letters"

Comments

US Government not interested or not invited?

[1nt3lx]

I found myself reading this article quite mindful of the frequency of stories recently that suggest the US is headed down a dangerous path of neglect and ignorance. Not only in the arena of biological research (stem cell, et al) but in technological developments as well. This is not a matter of observation but rather official administrative policy http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/04/0 2/183230&tid=98&tid=103&tid=190&tid=215&tid=231&ti d=14 .

"The study was funded by EPSRC in the United Kingdom, Ohio University, Volkswagen, and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundations, with additional support by the Scottish Executive and the Royal Society of Edinburgh"

It seems to me that this is exactly one example of the type of technology the government should be promoting, for military benefit or not. What I am not sure of is wether the researches had the option to solicit US funding or if they chose rather to not bother?

I don't know, it struck me as a little odd considering that we're told repeatedly about how important it is to be a world leader in economy, technology, and security here is something that promotes all three and the pentagon's fat couffers are nowhere to be found. (well potentially compromises the third, but that's another story)