Physicists create quantum microphone to count sound particles

Physicists from Stanford have created a device they call a “quantum microphone” that is sensitive enough to measure the individual particles of sound called phonons. The scientists say that the new device will allow new types of quantum sensors, transducers, and storage devices for future quantum machines. by Shane McGlaun @ slashgear.com

A phonon is something first proposed by Einstein in 1907 and is the name for a packet of vibrational energy emitted by jittery atoms. The packets manifest as sound or heat depending on their frequencies. Phonons have vibrational energies that are restricted to discrete values.

The energy of mechanical systems can be represented by different “Fock” states as 0, 1, 2, and so on based on the number of phonons it generates. The team at Stanford have created the world’s most sensitive microphone that uses quantum principals to pick up the whispers of atoms. It does this by measuring the Fock state and thus the number of phonons.

Physicists create quantum microphone to count sound particles – [Link]

Please follow and like us: