Posted on 01/07/2025 12:05:21 PM PST by Red Badger
A new theory, that explains how light and matter interact at the quantum level has enabled researchers to define the precise shape of a single photon.
Research at the University of Birmingham, published in Physical Review Letters, explores the nature of photons (individual particles of light) in unprecedented detail to show how they are emitted by atoms or molecules and shaped by their environment.
The nature of this interaction leads to infinite possibilities for light to exist and propagate, or travel, through its surrounding environment. This limitless possibility, however, makes the interactions exceptionally hard to model, and is a challenge that quantum physicists have been working to address for several decades.
By grouping these possibilities into distinct sets, the Birmingham team were able to produce a model that describes not only the interactions between the photon and the emitter, but also how the energy from that interaction travels into the distant ‘far field’.
At the same time, they were able to use their calculations to produce a visualisation of the photon itself.
Our calculations enabled us to convert a seemingly insolvable problem into something that can be computed. And, almost as a bi-product of the model, we were able to produce this image of a photon, something that hasn’t been seen before in physics.
First author Dr Benjamin Yuen, in the University’s School of Physics and Astronomy, explained: “Our calculations enabled us to convert a seemingly insolvable problem into something that can be computed. And, almost as a bi-product of the model, we were able to produce this image of a photon, something that hasn’t been seen before in physics.”
The work is important because it opens up new avenues of research for quantum physicists and material science. By being able to precisely define how a photon interacts with matter and with other elements of its environment, scientists can design new nanophotonic technologies that could change the way we communicate securely, detect pathogens, or control chemical reactions at a molecular level for example.
Co-author, Professor Angela Demetriadou, also at the University of Birmingham, said: “The geometry and optical properties of the environment has profound consequences for how photons are emitted, including defining the photons shape, colour, and even how likely it is to exist.”
Dr Benjamin Yuen, added: “This work helps us to increase our understanding of the energy exchange between light and matter, and secondly to better understand how light radiates into its nearby and distant surroundings. Lots of this information had previously been thought of as just ‘noise’ - but there’s so much information within it that we can now make sense of, and make use of. By understanding this, we set the foundations to be able to engineer light-matter interactions for future applications, such as better sensors, improved photovoltaic energy cells, or quantum computing.”
Ping!................
Is that an actual photon, or a Hindu karma symbol?
The shape of a single (unmarried) photon...
....let there be light....
I love interaction at the quantim level...as long as you agree with me. ;-)
I think we can all be 100% certain about one thing—- I’m sure a photon looks nothing like that since scientists these days are wrong about everything.
looks like an eyeball...................
Looks about right...
“This limitless possibility, however, makes the interactions exceptionally hard to model”
Agreed, the model is more ‘educated’ guess work than anything. The data coming out of the JWST lately simply does not match the conventional thought pushing a century now, the know-it-alls are going to have to start over on many things like the big bang theory, inflation, and the time/space theories are in conflict with popular theories.
I’ve seen a couple articles/vids recently that suggest that “dark energy” as we know it may not even exist from the data coming in from the JWST.
Who cares about the shape, what is it’s gender?
The dynamics involved are mind boggling. Photons of light interact with everything. This sounds like Don Quixote’s Impossible Dream. It sounds fascinating, but it also sounds like an unending reason to go after grant money.
Yes! The dark matter and energy that may or not exist, the global warming cooling climate change roll up your sleeve for the bat dna the universe is expanding/ contracting omg. They should just admit they have no idea about absolutely everything. I could respect that. Particle wave duality. There’s a good one.
If they could just focus the image better, maybe we could decipher what the squiggles around the edges say.
Be sure to...................
A new theory,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_theory
A scientific theory is an explanation of an aspect of the natural world and universe that can be (or a fortiori, that has been) repeatedly tested and corroborated in accordance with the scientific method, using accepted protocols of observation, measurement, and evaluation of results. Where possible, theories are tested under controlled conditions in an experiment.[1][2] In circumstances not amenable to experimental testing, theories are evaluated through principles of abductive reasoning. Established scientific theories have withstood rigorous scrutiny and embody scientific knowledge.
.....
The meaning of the term scientific theory (often contracted to theory for brevity) as used in the disciplines of science is significantly different from the common vernacular usage of theory.[5][note 1] In everyday speech, theory can imply an explanation that represents an unsubstantiated and speculative guess,[5] whereas in a scientific context it most often refers to an explanation that has already been tested and is widely accepted as valid.[1][2]
Yes, I have read some physicists did the math on their white boards and concluded matter can come into being on its on. Another theory. Not buying it because if the Doppler Effect is used to reverse the expansion of the Universe, it always comes down to the BiG Bang consisting of hydrogen and helium only. They still can't explain how all the other elements on the periodical table occurred.
My theory is: An unknown entity{s} threw out their dice with certain physics components/laws to set standards for their new Universe just to see what would happen.
Not much happened other than gravity(their singular most important physics) pulling the elements together into galaxies, nebulas, and individual stars. Some developed planetary systems.
After what was possibly a minute of their time, they saw our Rock evolve with growing organisms. Time to check us out...and watch through their UAP that they sent through wormholes or other means. Earth may have been just what they were hoping for in the infinite mix.
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