Physicists Created 'Molecules' of Light

      An amazing physics discovery has just been conducted... What exactly is a photon? Great question! The Free Dictionary states that a photon is the quantum of electromagnetic energy, regarded as a discrete particle having zero mass, no electric charge, and an indefinitely long lifetime. Two physicists in the U.S. created the first 'molecules' that are made of photons. The team was led by Mikhael Lukin and Vladan Vuletić. The experiment the two physicists conducted included firing the two photons through an ultracold atomic gas. The photons attract and stick together. "The breakthrough could allow both conventional and quantum computers to encode and process information using photons." (Johnston 1) Photons are not very easy to stick together, but a photon has an electromagnetic field which modifies its surrounding medium. The team sent the photons through a gas of rubidium atoms which was a few degrees above absolute zero. 

       The physicists used blue laser light which had a wavelength of 479 nm. A Rydberg state is created because the rubidium atoms shared some of its energy with many atoms. The result of this state is the two photons bounding together forming a molecule, and travelling through atomic gas. Photon molecules can really help our world in many ways. Creating interactions between photons can lead to faster and more efficient computers. The computers would use light pulses to process information! These molecules could even help in the development of quantum computers! 

 Click this Link to find out more about this breakthrough!: Molecules of Light 


Explanation of a Photon (Video)

Helpful Picture!