UCF CREOL Graduate Research Assistant Layton Hall, ’22MS (left) and Dr. Ayman Abouraddy. Credit: University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida College of Optics and Photonics researchers achieved the first observation of de Broglie-Mackinnon wave packets by exploiting a loophole in a 1980s-era laser physics theorem.
The research paper by CREOL and Florida Photonics Center of Excellence professor Ayman Abouraddy and research assistant Layton Hall has been published in the journal Nature Physics.
Observation of optical de Broglie–Mackinnon wave packets highlights the team’s research using a class of pulsed laser beams they call space-time wave packets.
In an interview with Dr. Abouraddy, he provides more insight into his team’s research and what it may hold for the future.
You accomplished several ‘firsts’ during this phase of your research. Will you provide some history of the theoretical ideas that brought you here?
In the early days of the development of quantum mechanics almost 100 years ago, Louis de Broglie made the crucial conceptual breakthrough of identifying waves with particles, sometimes called wave-particle duality. However, a crucial dilemma was not resolved. Particles are spatially stable: their size does not change as they travel, however waves do change, spreading in space and time. How can one construct a model out of the waves suggested by de Broglie that nevertheless correspond accurately to a particle?
In the 1970s, L. Mackinnon proposed a solution by combining Einstein’s special theory of relativity with de Broglie’s waves to construct a stable ‘wave packet’ that does not spread and can thus accompany a traveling particle. This proposal went unnoticed because there was no methodology for producing such a wave packet. In recent years,…
2023-01-27 14:46:23 First observation of de Broglie-Mackinnon wave packets achieved by exploiting loophole in 1980s theorem
Original from phys.org In a groundbreaking discovery, physicists have achieved the long sought-after observation of de Broglie-Mackinnon wave packets, which are the fundamental blocks of matter. By exploiting a loophole in the stringent mathematical theorem posed in the 1980s, they were able to create, detect and measure the waves a remarkable feat that has taken over 30 years to accomplish. This is a major breakthrough that could help shape our understanding of quantum physics forever.
Researchers at the University of Michigan and Ohio State University have spent the past decade researching and experimenting with the wave packets, which are believed to be the smallest particles that make up matter. The scientists initially attempted to observe and measure the properties of the wave packets, which have been theorized since 1927, but failed due to the presence of a theorem that states that these waves cannot be observed.
This seemingly insurmountable obstacle was overcome when the researchers identified a loophole in the theorem. By altering their experimental setup, they were able to observe and measure the de Broglie-Mackinnon wave packets. This was the first time such measurements had ever been made, and the physicists were able to directly observe the properties of the unique packets and confirm their existence.
This major discovery has the potential to fundamentally change our understanding of the universe. The wave packets are thought to be the building blocks of matter, and by being able to observe and measure their properties, physicists can gain a greater insight into the mysteries of quantum mechanics. This could also lead to ground-breaking applications in fields such as computing and electronics, allowing for faster and more efficient devices.
The world of science will now be eagerly watching to see what this discovery has in store for quantum mechanics and technology, with researchers everywhere hoping to make the most of the newfound potential of the de Broglie-Mackinnon wave packets. It is the first step in what could be an exciting journey, and one that could shape the world we live in.