Sunday 08 June 2025
Physicists have made a significant breakthrough in understanding how to harness the power of quantum mechanics to manipulate light and matter. By studying the interactions between microwave photons and magnetic spins, researchers have been able to create a new type of absorber that can perfectly absorb radiation.
This achievement is significant because it has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about energy storage and transmission. Traditionally, energy-absorbing materials are limited by their ability to convert all of the incoming energy into usable form. However, this new material can absorb 100% of the radiation that hits it, making it an extremely efficient tool for managing energy.
The research was conducted using a unique setup that consisted of a microwave resonator and a sample of magnetic spins, known as VOTPP crystals. The researchers were able to tune the frequency of the microwave photons to match the natural resonance frequency of the spins, creating a perfect match between the two.
When the microwave photons hit the spins, they created a phenomenon known as coherent absorption. This is when the energy from the photons is absorbed by the spins in a way that is synchronized with the frequency of the photons. As a result, all of the incoming radiation was perfectly absorbed, leaving no residual energy behind.
The researchers were able to observe this phenomenon using a technique called microwave spectroscopy. They measured the reflection and transmission properties of the microwave photons as they interacted with the spins, allowing them to pinpoint the exact frequency at which the coherent absorption occurred.
One of the most exciting aspects of this research is its potential application in the field of quantum computing. The ability to perfectly absorb radiation could be used to create more efficient qubits, which are the fundamental units of quantum information processing.
The researchers also discovered that the efficiency of the absorber decreased as they moved further away from the perfect match between the microwave photons and the spins. This suggests that there may be a sweet spot where the coherent absorption is maximized, and this could have important implications for the design of future energy-absorbing devices.
Overall, this research has opened up new possibilities for harnessing the power of quantum mechanics to manage energy. By better understanding how to manipulate light and matter at the quantum level, scientists may be able to create more efficient and effective ways to store and transmit energy in the future.
Cite this article: “Quantum Breakthrough: Perfect Absorption of Radiation Holds Promise for Efficient Energy Storage and Transmission”, The Science Archive, 2025.
Quantum Mechanics, Microwave Photons, Magnetic Spins, Absorber, Radiation, Energy Storage, Transmission, Coherent Absorption, Quantum Computing, Qubits
