Revolution in quantum technologies: physicists have learned to 'program' atoms without magnetic fields
A group of researchers from the Faculty of Physics at Vilnius University has presented a theoretical model that fundamentally changes the approach to controlling quantum systems. The essence of the development is the use of light to pre-"program" atoms without the need for external magnetic fields. This discovery could become the foundation for a new generation of quantum computers and secure communications.
How does the technology work?
The model is based on optical vortices—laser beams with a spiral wavefront structure. At the center of such a beam, the intensity drops to zero, forming a dark region. The size of this region is determined by the topological charge, which can take any positive or negative integer values. In practice, this allows for the creation of up to 10,000 different states, paving the way for the use of qudits—multi-level units of quantum information that significantly surpass traditional qubits in capacity.
The process works as follows: light first "programs" atoms in a gaseous medium, which then changes the shape and polarization of complex laser beams. The scientists examined the interaction of vector vortices with atoms having three energy levels. As a result, the prepared medium inherits the spatial pattern of the light: in some zones, atoms absorb radiation more strongly, while in others they become nearly transparent. A feedback loop emerges—the atomic response reshapes the beam itself, transforming a simple ring structure into a complex petal pattern with several bright regions around the center. The polarization structure also transforms in the process.
Why is this important?
Previously, achieving this level of control required powerful external magnetic fields and bulky equipment. The new model eliminates these limitations, offering more compact and energy-efficient solutions. Theoretically, the development opens the way to creating faster quantum processors, highly secure quantum communication networks, and ultra-precise optical sensors. Against the backdrop of recent advances in quantum computing—such as the publication of data on the 98-qubit Helios computer from Sandia National Laboratories and Quantinuum—this work appears particularly timely.
My expert conclusion: Abandoning magnetic fields is not just a technical simplification but a paradigm shift. If the model is confirmed in practice, we will have a scalable platform for quantum computing where state control occurs exclusively through optical methods. This could accelerate the commercialization of quantum technologies by years.