In a remarkable feat of scientific ingenuity, physicists at the Technical University of Denmark have manipulated a single photon to exist in a 37-dimensional quantum state. This breakthrough, published in Science Advances in February 2025, pushes the boundaries of quantum mechanics and opens exciting possibilities for future technologies. The experiment provides the strongest evidence yet of quantum nonlocality, where particles can influence each other instantaneously, defying classical physics.
The team, led by Zhenghao Liu, utilized a fiber-based photonic processor to generate and control photons. This innovative setup employed high-speed electro-optical modulation and time-bin encoding techniques. This allowed for precise manipulation of the photonic states, demonstrating that quantum mechanics operates far more nonclassically than previously understood.
This advancement has significant implications for quantum computing, cryptography, and information processing. The ability to create and control photons in such high-dimensional states suggests the potential for more powerful quantum advantages. As Liu noted, "Quantum physics is more nonclassical than many of us thought," hinting at even more profound discoveries to come.