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

Re:That's Nothing to be Proud Of

[Otter]

IIRC, individual photons are actually visible to darkness-adapted eyes...

Re:That's Nothing to be Proud Of

[spikedvodka]

ob [need citation] but still... I though that the eye wouldn't trigger on fewer than 8 photons in 1/25 seconds

Re:great, bloody typical.

[sm62704]

A quantum dot is a semiconductor whose excitons are confined in all three spatial dimensions (links to other terminology you may or may not understand from the link provided)

From Wikipedia: "There is no page titled "Stark-shifting." However, a Google search of the term brings up lots of interesting links, like "Effect of pressure-dependent quantum interference on the ac Stark shifting of two-photon resonances". The dictionary only lists towns named "Stark" when you search for the term.

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

Well then you should read my journals. Lots of sex, drunken debauchery, and violence. No lasers, but there's mention of taking a "hydrogen bomb" to junior high school. See, slashdot's got something for everybody!

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

[sm62704]

So far today no joke stories.

Apparently they were all voted down.