Splitting spin states on a chip
FEB 11, 2010
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.024074
Science : The different colors on the surface of a soap bubble arise from the interference of light waves reflecting from the outer and inner surface of the liquid film. As the thickness of the film varies, so will the wavelength of light that undergoes constructive interference and remains visible.According to quantum mechanics, even material particles such as electrons behave like waves. In addition to their charge, electrons also have two distinguishable spin states, spin-up and spin-down.In Science, Petta and associates demonstrate beam splitting and interferometry for the spin degrees of freedom of two electrons on a semiconductor chip. Related link A coherent beam splitter for electronic spin states
© 2010 American Institute of Physics
