A research team at University of Buffalo has developed a “traffic light” that can bring quantum waves to a halt.
The scientists isolated a specially built nano-conductor at an extremely cold temperature — minus 273 degrees Celsius. Under such conditions, in this ultra-small device, electrons exhibit a wavelike nature. By applying a small amount of voltage to the conductor, they managed to shake its atoms in a controllable fashion so that they provided a greater source of resistance to the quantum waves, which blocked the waves from passing through the conductor.
The ability to control particles such as electrons and photons is key to the development of quantum computers. (UBNow)