| Topic: |
Science > Physics |
| User: |
"Sam Wormley" |
| Date: |
22 Oct 2003 09:12:57 PM |
| Object: |
Super-cool detector spots single photons |
Ref: http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/10/12
Physicists in the US have made a
single-pixel detector that can measure the
energies of single photons. The device,
which is based on superconducting
aluminium, could be built into large arrays
to make detectors for the world's most
powerful telescopes (P Day et al. 2003
Nature 425 817).
Astronomers routinely use charge-coupled
detectors (CCDs) in telescopes to capture and
measure the light emitted by stars and galaxies.
However, these detectors cannot simultaneously
detect individual photons and record their energy
because of noise. Single-photon detectors would
significantly improve the performance of
telescopes and other astrophysical experiments,
such as measurement of the cosmic microwave
background.
See: http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/10/12
.
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