Study Reveals the Shape of a Photon for the First Time Ever
A study conducted at the University of Birmingham has identified the precise shape of a single photon, reshaping how interactions between light and matter at the quantum level are understood. The study detailed in Physical Review Letters tells us how photons, or particles of light, are emitted and influenced by their surroundings, offering possibilities for significant technological advancements.
This achievement stems from addressing a longstanding challenge in quantum physics: the near-infinite ways photons can propagate in their environment. Researchers grouped these scenarios into manageable sets, enabling a model to describe not just how photons interact with their emitters but also how energy radiates into the far field. The findings also included the first-ever visualisation of a photon, achieved through complex calculations.
Complex Problems Made Solvable
Dr Benjamin Yuen, a physicist at the University of Birmingham and lead author of the study, explained that the team converted an otherwise insurmountable problem into a computationally solvable framework. As a result, they could depict the shape of a photon—a significant milestone in quantum physics.
Photon Emission Shaped by Environment
The study, published in the Physical Review Letters, also reveals the critical role of environmental factors, including geometry and optical properties, in defining a photon’s characteristics. According to Professor Angela Demetriadou, co-author of the research, these influences extend to the photon’s colour, shape, and likelihood of being emitted. The data, previously dismissed as background noise, now serves as a valuable source of information.
Advancing Light-Matter Applications
This discovery is expected to advance the design of nanophotonic technologies. Dr. Yuen highlighted its potential to develop improved sensors, solar cells, and systems for quantum computing. A more detailed understanding of light-matter interactions could also lead to breakthroughs in secure communication and molecular-level chemical processes.
By visualising a photon for the first time, the research establishes a foundation for future exploration, marking a significant step forward in understanding the quantum world.
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A team of scientists has developed a new kind of self-healing circuit board that stays functional even after severe mechanical damage and can be reshaped or recycled entirely using heat. Infused with liquid metal and built using a polymer known as vitrimer, the new circuit boards could dramatically cut electronic waste and transform the durability of consumer electronics. Vitrimer retains the strength of traditional thermoset materials while allowing flexibility and repair, making it possible to reconfigure damaged boards without compromising electrical performance.
As per a study published in Advanced Materials on June 1, the boards were created by blending vitrimer with just 5% by volume of liquid metal droplets. This combination nearly doubled the material’s strain-at-break, or stretchability, compared to vitrimer alone. The embedded droplets are flexible as well, serving as flexible conductors in place of metal wiring used in traditional boards. Using a rheometer, tests showed the material was able to return to its original shape after heat-induced deformation ranging from 170°C to 200°C, which conventional epoxy-based thermosets cannot achieve.
Engineers also demonstrated that the material remains highly conductive and can recover its electrical function after being damaged. “Modern circuit boards simply cannot do this,” said Josh Worch, co-lead author of the study. His team designed the dynamic composite with the aim of building a circular economy around electronics. The design addresses a major environmental concern: most circuit boards today use thermosets that cannot be recycled and end up in landfills.
Electronic waste has more than doubled in 12 years, from 34 to 62 billion kilograms, as noted in a 2024 UN report. Despite containing valuable metals like gold, current boards are difficult to break down and reclaim due to the permanent nature of thermosetting plastics. The new vitrimer-based design, by contrast, allows for easy separation and reuse of materials. “Even if the board is damaged,” said Michael Bartlett, another co-lead author, “electrical performance will not suffer.”
More work needs to be done to improve the recovery of some elements, but the advance is a big step toward greener electronics, the researchers say. The technology could one day be in many different types of devices, from phones and laptops to wearables and TVs, changing the way devices are made, operated, and recycled.
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German Scientists at GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung found a new superheavy isotope, 257Sg, named Seaborgium, which reveals unexpected details about the stability and nuclear fission. This study was published in Physical Review Letters and describes how this isotope, made by fusing chromium-52 with lead-206, survived for 12.6 milliseconds, longer than usual. The rare longevity and decay into 253Rf provide new indications of how K-quantum numbers or angular momentum impact the fission resistance. The findings fill in the gaps and give us an understanding of the effects of quantum shells in superheavy nuclei, which is crucial for preventing immediate disintegration.
Challenging Traditional Views on K-Quantum Numbers and Fission
As per the study by GSI, it challenges conservative views on how K-quantum numbers impact fission. Previously, it was found that the higher K values lead to greater fission hindrance, but after getting the findings from the GSI team, a more complex dynamic emerged. They found that K-quantum numbers offer hindrance to fission, but it is still ot known that it is how much, said Dr. Pavol Mosat, the study’s co-author.
Discovery of First K-Isomeric State in Seaborgium
An important milestone is the identification of the first K-isomeric state in seaborgium. In 259Sg, the scientists found that the conversion of the electron signal occurs 40 microseconds after the nuclear formation. This is clear evidence of the high angular momentum K-isomer. These states have longer lifetimes and friction in fission in a more effective way than their ground-state counterparts.
Implications for the Theorised Island of Stability
This discovery by the scientists provides key implications for the Island of stability, which has long been theorised. It is a region where superheavy elements could have comparatively long half-lives. If K-isomers are present in the still undiscovered elements such as 120, they can enable scientists in the detection of nuclei that would otherwise decay in just under one microsecond.
Synthesising 256Sg with Ultra-Fast Detection Systems
This team of German Scientists under GSI is now aiming to synthesise 256Sg, which might decay quicker than observed or predicted. Their success is dependent on the ultra-fast detection systems created by GSI, which are capable of capturing events within 100 nanoseconds. This continued research by the team may help in reshaping the search and studying the heaviest elements in the periodic table.
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257Sg, seaborgium, K-isomer, superheavy, elements, nuclear stability, fission, GSI, TASCA, Physical Review Letters, element 120, island of stability
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