Researchers count photons by counting magnetic flux quanta

In short

• Researchers at AIST directly observed magnetic flux quanta generated in a superconductor by photon absorption.
• The team demonstrated a new principle of photon detection.
• The method identifies photon number from the number of flux quanta.

Why the Good News Desk likes this one

Counting photons exactly has been hard for many detectors. This work shows a direct physical signal that tracks how many photons were absorbed. The source describes a demonstration of the principle, not a finished device.

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