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Researchers at Stanford University announced that they have developed a quantum microphone that detects the phonon vibration energy, which is the smallest unit when sound is assumed to be a virtual particle.
A typical microphone vibrates a sound wave through a membrane called a diaphragm and converts it into electricity to signal sound. However, this method is difficult to convert phonons into signals. In addition, according to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, the position of a quantum entity cannot be accurately known without changing it, so the original general microphone structure cannot detect individual phonons.
The research team announced that they did not measure sound indirectly, but created a device that allows you to directly know the energy of the phonon, including a microscopic resonator that looks like a mirror of sound. The device consists of nano-sized resonators arranged in a lattice shape. This resonator is coupled to a superconducting circuit to form a quantum bit called a qubit with a natural frequency that can be read electronically. When this resonator vibrates like a drum head, a different phonon is produced.
The team explained that the phonons trapped in the middle of the grid vibrate. It is also possible to measure this vibration at different energy levels corresponding to different numbers of phonons.
The device is said to have the potential to develop into a new type of quantum computer in the future. A device that receives fine sound packets may enable the development of a device that encodes information from sound energy and may enable storage of vast amounts of data in a small device. Phonons are easier to handle than photons, which means that you can use photons to make things smaller and more efficient than quantum computers.
In this regard, the research team explains that the device made this time will be an important step toward making a mechanical quantum computer. Related information can be found here .
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