Scientists from the Quantum Communications Laboratory of the National Research Technological University MISiS have created a simplified prototype of a matrix of video detectors of photons in the infrared range.
The development is reported by the press service of the university.
For the first time, single-pixel detectors (counters) of single photons on superconductors were created in the early 2000s by the same team of scientists - the team of the chief researcher of the laboratory, Grigory Goltsman.
Now developers are faced with the task of scaling this technology and creating a video camera for photons with a matrix of 1000 pixels.
At present, a simple prototype of such a camera has been created, working with a more modest 8-pixel matrix, on which all the features of the technology can be worked out.
“Albert Einstein proved that the photon exists and is registered.
For many years, electron-tube photon detectors were used, and then semiconductors.
However, such devices recorded light only in the visible range.
For the first time, our technology has made it possible to work on superconductors in the infrared range.
For 16 years we have been selling infrared single-pixel counters all over the world, and now we have decided to switch to a real video camera, "Grigory Goltsman said in an interview with RT.
According to Grigory Goltsman, in contrast to household video cameras, specialized for recording photons is able to quickly capture very weak light in the infrared range, which makes it "the most sensitive camera in the world."
According to the developers, a specialized camera for detecting photons captures very weak light in the infrared range, making it the most sensitive camera in the world.
© NUST MISIS
As the developers note, the demand for multi-pixel photon detectors is growing along with the development of technology.
The new cameras will be used in fiber-optic networks in secure communication channels to ensure the security of data transmission.
“If an attacker tries to steal some information encoded with photons, he simply cannot do it secretly.
Photon detectors will be installed at both the consumer and the sender of information.
And if the information is stolen, then it will be known at the speed of light, ”explained Grigory Goltsman.
The developer also gives other examples of using his video detectors.
In particular, the new video cameras will be able to "scan" the rock to search for diamonds or detect tiny cancerous tumors in the body.
Also, according to scientists, photon counters will be useful in a wide variety of high-tech areas where infrared optics are used, when designing a quantum computer based on photons and for communication with very distant spaceships.