Nanoscale measurements 100x more precise, thanks to improved two-photon technique
Technique uses photons, fundamental components of light, to measure nanoscopic materials thinner than 100,000th the width of a human hair - with 30,000 fired per second and 500bn throughout. Research will mean measurements 100x more precise than existing two-photon techniques - with the potential to aid research into cell membranes and DNA Two-photon technique more stable than existing one-photon technology New technique could also be substantially cheaper The precision of measuring nanoscopic structures could be substantially improved, thanks to research involving the University of Warwick and QuantIC researchers at the University of Glasgow and Heriot Watt University into optical sensing. QuantIC is the UK Quantum Technology Hub in Quantum Enhanced Imaging and part of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme. Using pairs of photons, fundamental components of energy that make up light, the researchers have devised a way to measure the thickness of objects that are less than a 100,000th of the width of a human hair. The new technique involves firing two near identical photons onto a component known as a beamsplitter , and monitoring their subsequent behaviour - with some 30,000 photons detected per second, and 500bn in use throughout a full experiment. Because of the tendency of identical photons to 'buddy up' and continue travelling on together - the result of a delicate quantum interference effect - the researchers' newly developed setup offers the same precision and stability as existing one-photon techniques that, due to the equipment required, are more costly.
