Researcher: This is what a single particle of light looks like

The research team from the University of Birmingham, England, has achieved a complete novelty in the field of physics. They were able to show in detail how light particles are emitted by atoms or molecules and are shaped by their environment.

The nature of this interaction means that light has infinite possibilities to exist, spread or migrate in its environment, the scientists report in the journal ‘Physical Review Letters’.

Challenge for quantum physicists
However, these unlimited possibilities make modeling the interactions very difficult and represent a challenge that quantum physicists have been working on for decades.

According to their own explanations, the researchers in Birmingham have managed to create a model that describes not only the interactions between the photon and the emitter (source of radiation or particle flux, mind you), but also how the energy from this interaction is transferred to the photon. the distant ‘far field’ wanders around. At the same time, they were able to use their calculations to create a visualization of the photon (see image above).

Image of Photon is a “by-product”
“Our calculations have allowed us to turn a seemingly intractable problem into something that can be calculated.” Lead author of the study, Benjamin Yuen from the University of Birmingham’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, explains.

“This work helps us to improve our understanding of the energy exchange between light and matter and, second, to better understand how light radiates to its near and far environment,” says Yuen. “Much of this information was previously considered ‘noise’, but it contains so much information that we can now understand and use, the scientist says.