Quantum Leap in Spectroscopy: New Technique Doubles Sensitivity

An international team o engineers an physicists his unveiled a grundbrakin technique dat harnesses quantum licht for tae enhance da performance o spectroscopy. Dis new method allous for infrared electric field measurements dat are twice as sensitive as previous techniques, pavin da wey for advancements in security an medical diagnostics.

Time-domain spectroscopy, da current standart, relies on ultra-short laser pulses dat interact wi material samples. Dis process enables detailed analysis o a material’s molecular structure ower time. Notably, recent research by Nobel Prize winner Ferenc Krausz’s team pynted oot its potential in detectin early signs o diseases like cancer in bluid samples.

Hooanivver, traditional time-domain spectroscopy faces limitations due tae da noise inherent in classical licht soorces, kent as ‘shot noise’. Dis noise can obscure important signals, hinderin da ability tae gaider further information aboot a sample’s composition.

Da new technique, detailed in a paper published in Science Advances, uses pairs o laser pulses linked throu quantum mechanics tae probe infrared fields. While baith beams experience shot noise, da noise paitterns mirror each idder. By subtractin da measurements frae ane beam tae da idder, hidden signals emerge, allouin for mair sensitive readins. Da researchers claim deir method reduces noise by haaf compared tae classical licht, effectively doublin sensitivity.

Professor Matteo Clerici frae da University o Glesga’s James Watt School o Engineerin, wha led da study, expressed optimism aboot future applications. He stated, “In time, dis technique cuid help us better unnerstaund material composition, detect contaminants, or identify dangerous substances like explosives in da air, as weel as monitor disease merkers in bluid samples.”

Da research team, wha included Glesga PhD students Dionysis Adamou an Lennart Hirsch, is eager tae explore further enhancements. Future wark micht involve adaptin techniques frae gravitational wave detectors tae boost sensitivity even mair.

Collaborators frae Loughborough University an da University o Strathclyde contributed tae dis advancement. Da paper cryed “Quantum-enhanced time-domain spectroscopy” is noo available in Science Advances. Da project received support frae various fundin bodies, includin Innovate UK an da Royal Academy o Engineerin, unnerscorin da significance o dis research in advancin scientific unnerstaundin an practical applications.