German scientists create silicon chip capable of emitting photons

In the age of universal computerization and digitalization, the transfer of confidential data is a real headache. Modern quantum cryptography is able to guarantee 100% security. But it was almost impossible to combine it with existing technologies.

But a research team from Germany has constructed a silicon-based single infrared photon source that is capable of generating approximately 100,000 photons per second.

This development will allow quantum cryptography to be combined with existing silicon technologies.

What is Quantum Cryptography

First, I want to say a few words about quantum cryptography. So Quantum Key Distribution is currently a 100% secure method of exchanging secret keys between two users. After all, the whole principle of this system is based on the main laws of the quantum world.

After all, if a third party tries to steal the transmitted key, then he will need to take a measurement. So the measurement process itself will certainly introduce anomalies into the key. And these anomalies will immediately be seen by the legitimate participants in the program.

That is, authorized participants in the transfer can disclose and simply check that no one else has measured the key except them.

Most quantum security protocols have been based on single photon transmission. This is the main condition for secrecy.

Only before the development of German scientists, the sources of single photons were very complex devices, poorly compatible with modern electronic devices.

Development of a new silicon chip

Scientific group from the Center. Helmholtz Dresden-Rosendolph and Dresden University of Technology, in the course of numerous experiments, obtained the system generation of single photons, where a silicon chip was taken as a basis (practically all modern electronics).

This became possible after engineers placed carbon atoms in silicon using an accelerator. During this process, a pair of carbon atoms together with a silicon atom formed a synthetic atom that was able to emit photons in the infrared range with a wavelength of 1.3 microns.

At the same time, the photons generated by the chip are perfectly distributed along the glass fiber.

The laboratory sample was capable of generating about 100,000 single photons per second. That's just in order for this system to fully function, it is necessary to cool it to a temperature of 4 Kelvin.

What are the prospects for invention

In fact, this development is difficult to overestimate. After all, it allows, so to speak, to "merge" existing technologies based on silicon with completely new developments.

That is, perhaps, the so-called quantum processors, repeaters and sensors based on good old silicon will appear soon.

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