Scientists combine light and sound into a revolutionary new technology

Physicists have developed a theoretical approach to a new type of quantum entanglement by combining particles of light (photons) with particles of sound (phonons). The system, called optoacoustic entanglement, offers a new approach to the development of quantum technologies, providing greater resistance to external noise — one of the main problems in this field, informs Science Alert.

In work carried out at the Max Planck Institute for Light Research in Germany, physicists Changlong Zhu, Claudio Jenes and Birgit Stiller proposed using the process of Brillouin scattering. This process consists in the interaction of light with thermal sound waves in the atoms of a material. To achieve entanglement, the researchers propose using laser pulses and sound waves in a specially designed chip with a Brillouin-active waveguide. The interaction between phonons and photons in this medium creates entanglement between particles with very different energy levels.

The main advantage of this approach is that entanglement is possible at higher temperatures than standard methods. This could reduce the dependence on expensive cryogenic equipment, expanding the possibilities of practical use of quantum systems.

The researchers note that their approach could find applications in quantum computing, information storage, metrology, teleportation, and quantum communications. In addition, it opens up new perspectives for studying the boundary between the classical and quantum worlds.

The results of this study were published in the journal Physical Review Letters and are another step towards creating more reliable and accessible quantum technologies.