First observation of optical Magnus effect could sharpen quantum computer control
Table tennis professionals are true masters at redirecting fast-moving projectiles. Putting a targeted spin on a serve can make the little white ball fly straight toward the edge of the table but then, at the last moment, take a sharp curve into the left corner. The physical phenomenon behind this sporting trick is known as the Magnus effect. It acts on balls of all sizes and has helped decide…
Scientists have made the first observation of the optical Magnus effect, a phenomenon that could improve the control of quantum computers. The optical Magnus effect is similar to the Magnus effect observed in sports such as table tennis, where a targeted spin on a ball causes it to curve. In this case, researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI directed a laser beam at a single calcium ion and discovered that the point of maximum interaction was shifted sideways.
This finding is important for the development of quantum computers, as laser light is used to precisely control qubits, which are the basic units of information in quantum computers. The researchers report their findings in the journal Physical Review Letters. The optical Magnus effect could interfere with the precise control of qubits in quantum computers, leading to errors, but it could also be used to couple qubits together, enabling more complex computations.
The researchers used a trapped calcium ion as a sensitive probe to measure the lateral shift of the laser beam, which was found to depend solely on the wavelength of the light, not on how tightly the laser was focused.
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