Scientists are conducting researches to cause the photons behave like electrons.
miniaturising delay line
Mohammed Hafezi and Jacob M. Taylor, Joint Quantum Institute, JQI, and Eugene A Demler and Mikhail D. Lukin, Harvard researchers, suggested a novel innovation of an optical delay line that can be placed in a computer chip. The delay lines are inactive, but important in processing signals, and are added to delay the arrival of photon. Encapsulating the optical elements into a single chip cannot be flawless, thereby reducing the efficiency of information transmitted. The delay line suggested uses advanced quantum effects and secures the signals from damage thereby resulting in complicated photonic devices.
The quantum hall effect takes place in a two dimension, large group of electrons under the effect of a huge magnetic field. In the quantum hall effect, the electrons travel along the edges that seem like highways called “edge states” that can be penetrated only at precise magnetic field values, causing electrical resistance. The scientists recently proved that certain substances have quantum spin hall effect (QSHE), based on the spin characteristics of the electron. The edge state exists in QSHE even when there is no magnetic field, resulting in new innovations in electronics.
In the nature physics article, the JQI – Harvard team suggests a device that replaces electrons with light and is supportive of these “edge states”. This equipment functions at room temperature without any magnetic field application. The device shows that the edge states’ resilience can be used to design innovative micrometer-scale optical delay lines.
Hasefi explains how a photon can be confined to two-dimensions. Researchers suggest constructing a two-dimensional array of resonators, so that the photons will move towards the edge state, only when subject to a specific color of light. When the two-dimensional structure causes photons to be in an edge state, transmission via the delay line is secured. But, the procedure of quantum edge state reduces loss of signal during transmission. Researchers hope that these devices will pave the way for constructing circuit elements like transistor using photons.