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The reversed-biased method is actually the basis of single-photon detectors used in quantum optics experiments, especially experiments with entangled photons. H
by jIyajbe 2y ago
The reversed-biased method is actually the basis of single-photon detectors used in quantum optics experiments, especially experiments with entangled photons. Here's a paper that uses exactly this--reversed-biased red LEDs-- to introduce physics undergrads to the essential concepts:
https://advlabs.aapt.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=13808 https://advlabs.aapt.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=13808
It includes a simple circuit that probably anyone here on HN could build. (Even me!)
- anfractuosity 2y agoVery cool, you might like this - https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/135958853/The_LED_as_low_cost_single_photon_source.pdf https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/porta... A single photon source from an LED. I need to read it more closely, but was curious if it could be used to create a quantum RNG.
- jIyajbe 2y agoI read the paper; much of the electronics details got past me on the first read, but I think that the part most relevant to your question is their statement that it needs to be determined if the LED is a deterministic or a probabilistic single-photon light source.
- anfractuosity 2y agoYeah, that's a good point, I've just been looking at - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-photon_source#Characteristics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-photon_source#Character... which talks a little about what deterministic means with respect to a single photon source. It sounds like if it's probabilistic it could also generate multiple photons.