Nanoscale sound waves vibrate artificial atom

Laser light ( green ) is mixed with the sound wave by the artificial atom. This process changes the color of the emitted light quanta (red and blue) with extremely high precision. Universität Augsburg - Matthias Weiß A German-polish research team from Augsburg, Münster, Munich and Wrocław successfully mixed nanoscale sound waves and light quanta. In their study published in Optica the scientists use an 'artificial atom' that converts the vibrations of the sound wave to single light quanta - photons - with unprecedented precision. The demonstrated fundamental principle marks an important step toward the development of future hybrid quantum technologies. Light and sound waves form the backbone of modern communication technology. While light transmits data across the globe in fibre optical network, sound wave-based chips are used in the wireless communication between routers, tablets or smartphones.