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Adelaide
Researchers in South Australia have developed a light energy trap similar to tractor beams used to capture spaceships in sci-fi movies such as Star Trek and Star Wars.
Dr. Philip Light and the atomic chamber used to create the infrared tractor beam. Image: Jennie Groom.
This discovery paves the way for new quantum experiments likely to lead to new technologies of secure communication or advanced detection.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have created the infrared ray of the tractor – or light energy trap – for atoms. But rather than sucking space ships into a space station, their tractor beam draws atoms into a microscopic hole located at the center of a special optical fiber.
Posted in the journal Applied physical examinationresearchers at the University's Institute of Advanced Photonics and Advanced Detection (IPAS) say this is the first time scientists have been able to demonstrate an extremely effective "waveguide trap".
The tractor beam works by infrared interaction of infrared light with the atoms to create a change of energy that drives the atoms into the most intense part of the light beam.
Ashby Hilton, a Ph.D. student, has developed this technology and said that even though tractors bundles in movies like Star Trek and Star wars are green or blue, in this case the trap consists of invisible infrared light.
"The beam holds the atoms that float in a chamber almost entirely emptied of gas – a small sample of the space on Earth," he said.
The atomic chamber used to create the infrared tractor beam.
"Every atom that enters the tractor beam is driven into the fiber – there is no escape."
Once aspirated inside the optical fiber, the atoms can be stored for long periods.
"Our experiments show that we can control light very precisely to produce exactly the right conditions to control atoms."
Lead researcher Philip Light said the technology allows for quantum experiments on trapped atoms.
"Our first experiments are to use these stored atoms as elements of a quantum memory," he said.
"We hope that our work will eventually be part of an absolutely secure communications channel that is of great interest to defense, intelligence and industry."
Researchers are now entering the next phase, in which the tractor beam is formed of a cone of hollow light rather than a continuous beam of light. In this new configuration, the atoms will be held in the center of the cone of light where it is perfectly black.
"It's an extremely powerful idea: we can move and manipulate atoms, but we can protect them from the disruptive effect of intense light," said Dr. Light.
Researchers have essentially created a quantum funnel that allows them to guide and trap atoms longer without disrupting their delicate quantum state.
Professor Andre Luiten, director of the Institute of Advanced Photonics and Detection, said researchers were manipulating and measuring individual atoms and molecules to detect the world around them.
"This new era of quantum detection opens up many possibilities, ranging from detecting diseases for particular molecules in the breath, to assisting minors and defense by detecting abnormal magnetic fields associated with mineral deposits or a hidden underwater activity, "said Professor Luiten.
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