Scientists Build New Type of Photon Gun

KentuckyFC writes "Single photons are surprisingly difficult to generate. But since they are crucial for quantum communication, a number of research groups are working on photon guns that fire single photons on demand. The problem they have come up against is that making the photons identical is proving harder than expected. Now a group in Cambridge, UK, has cracked the problem using a quantum dot on a transistor to emit single photons that are essentially identical. In the process, the group has developed an entirely new technique to trigger photon emission (abstract on the physics arxiv)."

Comments

great, bloody typical.

[apodyopsis]

great, bloody typical. another /. story to make me feel stupid. FTFA:

"We generate indistinguishable photons from a semiconductor diode containing a InAs/GaAs quantum dot. Using an all-electrical technique to populate and control a single-photon emitting state we filter-out dephasing by Stark-shifting the emission energy on timescales below the dephasing time of the state. Mixing consecutive photons on a beam-splitter we observe two-photon interference with a visibility of 64%"

snooze. snooze. snort. no mention of stun, kill, slicing, death ray, x-ray specs or photonic propulsion, so there is nothing there for me.

if some obliging, and more informed /. reader could supply us all with an explanation why this is a big deal then on behalf of the others I'll be thanking you in advance.....

Re:great, bloody typical.

[CompMD]

I can't believe someone modded you insightful. Don't complain if you don't understand semiconductors and quantum physics, its annoying to those of us who do understand them.

Re:it's [not] funny, [don't] laugh

[sconeu]

I think that's the April Fools joke -- there are no April Fools joke stories.

Though, I want my ZOMG!!! PONIES!!!! theme back for one day.