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2 weeks agoon
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Researchers at Linköping University have validated a decade-old theory linking quantum mechanics and information theory through an innovative experiment. Their study, published in Science Advances, confirms the complementarity principle, which states that light can exhibit both wave and particle characteristics, depending on how it is measured. This work not only sheds light on quantum uncertainty but also has significant implications for future technologies like quantum computing and secure communication.
Historically, the understanding of light as both wave and particle evolved from Newton’s 17th-century hypothesis to later experiments by physicists like Max Planck and Albert Einstein. The recent experiment built upon a 2014 theoretical study establishing a connection between the complementarity principle and entropic uncertainty, suggesting that measuring light reveals an inherent unknown information component.
By using photons in orbital angular momentum, a unique measurement setup allowed researchers to observe wave-particle behavior flexibly. With this experimental approach, future applications in quantum communication, encryption, and metrology may be realized. The researchers express excitement for further investigations, aiming to explore real-time adjustments in their setup, which could enhance secure distribution of encryption keys in communications. The study paves the way for new discoveries in quantum technology.