Re: Photons Under Control

From: Gregory L. Hansen (glhansen_at_steel.ucs.indiana.edu)
Date: 10/29/04 

Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2004 13:44:15 +0000 (UTC)

In article <2202379a.0410290541.443e9895@posting.google.com>,
Ken S. Tucker <dynamics@vianet.on.ca> wrote:
>Ian Stirling <root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:<41816e76$0$33595$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net>...
>> Neutron <neutron_p@lycos.com> wrote:
>> > "Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ) in
>> > Garching, Germany have achieved unprecedented control over the
>> > creation of single photons (Nature, October 28, 2004). By using a
>> > tightly trapped single calcium ion, localized between two ultra-high
>> > reflectivity mirrors, and subjecting it to an external laser pulse,
>> > the scientists could emit photons one by one. The emission time and
>> > the pulse shape of each photon were completely user-controlled.
>>
>> How can the pulse shape of a photon be controlled?
>> "Ok, and now, one like a shark".
>> (well, not quite.)
>
>Did you read the OP's reference?
>It's a bit ambiguous, being a pop-article,
>but if they find any disconcernable structure
>to a photon, that would be really fantastic.
>Ken

By pulse shape, I assume they mean wavefunction. There's a difference
between structure in a photon, an the shape of the wavefunction. 

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