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A 350-year-old mechanics theorem helped researchers make a discovery in modern optics.
Scientists at the Stevens Institute of Technology have applied a 350-year-old theorem originally used to describe the behavior of pendulums and planets to uncover new properties of light waves.
Since the 17th century, starting with the debate between Isaac Newton and Christian Huygens about the essence of light, scientists have tried to answer the question: is light a wave or a particle? Now, researchers at the Stevens Institute of Technology have discovered a new connection between these viewpoints, using a 350-year-old mechanics theorem to explain the complex properties of light waves.
The work led by Xiaofeng Qian also proves for the first time that the degree of non-quantum entanglement of a light wave exists in a direct and complementary relationship with the degree of its polarization. This means that complex optical properties such as amplitudes, phases, and correlations can be determined from a simpler measurement: light intensity.
Qian's team used a mechanical theorem developed by Huygens in 1673, which explains how the energy required to rotate an object depends on the object's mass. They interpreted the light intensity as equivalent to the mass of a physical object, then mapped these measurements in a coordinate system that could be interpreted using Huygens ' theorem.
Illuminating these connections can have important practical implications, allowing us to reveal the subtle properties of optical systems from simpler light intensity measurements. In addition, the research suggests the possibility of using mechanical systems to model and better understand the complex behavior of quantum wave systems.
"This research helps simplify our understanding of the world, allowing us to learn innate connections between seemingly unrelated physical laws," said Qiang.
Scientists at the Stevens Institute of Technology have applied a 350-year-old theorem originally used to describe the behavior of pendulums and planets to uncover new properties of light waves.
Since the 17th century, starting with the debate between Isaac Newton and Christian Huygens about the essence of light, scientists have tried to answer the question: is light a wave or a particle? Now, researchers at the Stevens Institute of Technology have discovered a new connection between these viewpoints, using a 350-year-old mechanics theorem to explain the complex properties of light waves.
The work led by Xiaofeng Qian also proves for the first time that the degree of non-quantum entanglement of a light wave exists in a direct and complementary relationship with the degree of its polarization. This means that complex optical properties such as amplitudes, phases, and correlations can be determined from a simpler measurement: light intensity.
Qian's team used a mechanical theorem developed by Huygens in 1673, which explains how the energy required to rotate an object depends on the object's mass. They interpreted the light intensity as equivalent to the mass of a physical object, then mapped these measurements in a coordinate system that could be interpreted using Huygens ' theorem.
Illuminating these connections can have important practical implications, allowing us to reveal the subtle properties of optical systems from simpler light intensity measurements. In addition, the research suggests the possibility of using mechanical systems to model and better understand the complex behavior of quantum wave systems.
"This research helps simplify our understanding of the world, allowing us to learn innate connections between seemingly unrelated physical laws," said Qiang.
