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Which system will be the loudest, and which will give “absolute” silence: two interesting scientific projects

A group of physicists from Australia, Singapore and China have developed a technology for controlling the quantum state of photons in vacuum noise. In the long run, the solution will increase the accuracy of quantum computing.

We tell you how the "quietest" system works. We will also talk about another scientific project - its participants, on the contrary, managed to generate the loudest sound on the planet.


Photo Oleg Laptev / Unsplash

Hush hush


In any, even the most quiet place on the planet , there is the so-called vacuum noise. Its source is vacuum energy , which forms the basis of the universe. This energy is generated by atoms and molecules that emit electromagnetic waves during the transition from an excited state to a stable one ( spontaneous emission effect ). Vacuum noise exists even in quiet, isolated dark rooms and can interfere with the operation of quantum networks and computers - cause interference when encoding information in the quantum state of photons.

A team of scientists led by physicists and engineers from Australian National University (ANU) has proposed a solution to the problem. Specialists presented A device for controlling the quantum state of photons at the energy level, which is usually drowned out by vacuum noise.

Its principle of operation is based on the method of compressing light . This is a quantum phenomenon that allows redistributing inaccuracies in the determination of the parameters of light associated with the Heisenberg principle (it does not allow measuring the coordinate and momentum of a particle at the same time). In fact, it reduces the error along one of the axes (amplitude or phase) and makes it possible to work at a noise level less than silence.

Scientists have been engaged in light compression technologies for over 20 years. They used the same technique to increase the accuracy of optical measurements. For example, in kilometer interferometers for registration of gravitational waves. The authors of the study expect that their new device will contribute to the development of quantum computing and encryption.

The team has already presented the results of their work at the annual Rising Star of Light contest - conducted by Springer Nature publishing company - and won first place. However, engineers have to solve several problems. For example, their proposed method is still unstable . But when he technology is run-in, it will be able to "go" outside the laboratory.

The exact opposite is the loudest sound


Last year, a group of researchers from the US National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC) was able to reach the calculated limit of sound volume in the aquatic environment - 270 dB. This is significantly more than a take-off plane or rocket. Engineers used the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-ray laser - it is able to create a “ molecular black hole ” and heat water to 100,000 ° C. Thin jets of water with a diameter of 14–30 μm were “bombarded” with short pulses. Under the influence of radiation, the liquid instantly evaporated, causing a shock wave.


It is impossible to generate sound louder than 270 dB in a liquid medium. Beyond the threshold value, water stops evaporating and turns into micro bubbles filled with steam. After formation, they immediately collapse (the so-called cavitation occurs ), but the sound wave is no longer formed.

According to representatives of SLAC, in the future, such experiments will help to better understand how high volume affects physical and biological samples. This will open up new possibilities in the development of materials.


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