Topic: Physics

Researchers in Finland have developed a new tool that can detect incredibly small amounts of energy, less than one trillionth of a billionth of a joule. This breakthrough could improve quantum computing and help scientists search for dark matter.

Scientists have achieved a major advance in ultra-sensitive measurement technology by detecting an amount of energy smaller than one zeptojoule. This tiny quantity is roughly equivalent to the amount of work needed to move a red blood cell upward by one nanometer in Earth's gravity.

The research team, led by Academy Professor Mikko Möttönen at Aalto University, used a calorimeter to measure extremely small changes in heat energy. They directed a microwave pulse into a sensor built from two types of metals: superconductors and normal conductors. This combination makes the setup very sensitive to temperature changes.

The researchers confirmed they had detected an electromagnetic pulse measuring just 0.83 zeptojoules, marking the first time a calorimetric measurement device has reached such sensitivity. This breakthrough could eventually allow scientists to count individual photons, a long-standing goal in quantum technology and astrophysics.

The advance could also be useful in quantum computers because the calorimeter operates at the same extremely cold millikelvin temperatures required by qubits, the basic units of quantum information.

The work was carried out using the facilities of OtaNano, Finland's national research infrastructure for nano-, micro- and quantum technologies. Funding for the project primarily came from the Future Makers initiative, supported by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation and the Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation.

Why It Matters

This breakthrough could lead to more powerful quantum devices and new ways of studying some of the universe's biggest mysteries. It also shows how scientists are constantly developing more precise tools to measure and control phenomena, which is crucial for advancing our understanding of the world around us.

Key Facts

• Scientists in Finland have developed a tool that can detect incredibly small amounts of energy, less than one trillionth of a billionth of a joule.
• The breakthrough could improve quantum computing technology and support the search for dark matter.
• The research team used a calorimeter to measure extremely small changes in heat energy.
• The setup is very sensitive to temperature changes, making it useful for detecting tiny amounts of energy.
• The advance could eventually allow scientists to count individual photons.

Key Terms

Zeptojoule

A unit of energy that is one trillionth of a billionth of a joule

Implications

This breakthrough could lead to more powerful quantum devices and new ways of studying some of the universe's biggest mysteries. It also shows how scientists are constantly developing more precise tools to measure and control phenomena, which is crucial for advancing our understanding of the world around us.