Study reveals the shape of a photon for the first time

Research at the University of Birmingham has identified the precise shape of a single photon, reshaping the way light-matter interactions are understood at the quantum level. The research described in Physical Review Letters tells us how photons, or light particles, are emitted and affected by their environment, providing the potential for significant technological advances.

This achievement comes from tackling a long-standing challenge in quantum physics: the virtually infinite ways in which photons can propagate in their environment. Researchers have grouped these scenarios into manageable sets, allowing a model to describe not only how photons interact with their emitters, but also how energy radiates into the far field. The findings also include the first-ever visualization of a photon, achieved through complex calculations.

Complex problems made solvable

Dr. Benjamin Yuen, a physicist at the University of Birmingham and lead author of the studyexplained that the team had turned an otherwise insurmountable problem into a computationally solvable framework. As a result, they were able to reproduce the shape of a photon – a major milestone in quantum physics.

Photon emission formed by the environment

The study, published in the Physical Review Letters also reveals the crucial role of environmental factors, including geometry and optical properties, in defining a photon’s characteristics. According to professor Angela Demetriadou, co-author of the study, these influences extend to the photon’s color, shape and probability of emission. The data, previously dismissed as background noise, now serves as a valuable source of information.

Promote light matter applications

This discovery is expected to advance the design of nanophotonic technologies. Dr. Yuen highlighted its potential to develop improved sensors, solar cells and quantum computing systems. A more detailed understanding of the interactions between light and matter could also lead to breakthroughs in secure communications and chemical processes at the molecular level.

By visualizing a photon for the first time, the research lays a foundation for future research, which represents an important step forward in understanding the quantum world.