Exploring the Mind-bending Consequences of Halving Photons

WHO:

[ScienceAlert] - Researchers from the University of Oslo (UiO) conducted the study.

[Gizmodo] - The study was authored by three theoretical physicists from the University of Oslo.

WHAT:

[ScienceAlert] - The researchers explored what happens when attempting to "cut" a photon in two, leading to the conclusion that a truncated photon results in a complicated state involving photon numbers up to infinity.

[Gizmodo] - The study is titled “Truncated Photon” and discusses the theoretical implications of splitting a photon using its wave-particle duality.

[Gizmodo] - The researchers found that removing an optical shutter could create a superposition of modes, resulting in a "bunch of new photons."

WHERE:

[ScienceAlert] - The research was conducted at the University of Oslo in Norway.

WHY:

[ScienceAlert] - The study aims to understand the behavior of photons and their wave-particle duality, which has not been previously explored in this context.

HOW:

[ScienceAlert] - The researchers calculated the effects of removing an optical shutter while reflecting a photon, leading to the creation of multiple photons or a quantum state of superposition.

[Gizmodo] - The study utilized quantum field theory to analyze the dynamics of a photon’s waveform and the effects of an optical shutter on it.

[Gizmodo] - The researchers explained that removing the mirror creates a "tug on the quantum field," pulling photons from the nearby vacuum, resulting in a sharp edge of superposed photons.

(UPDATED July 25, 2026 05:53 UTC)

Researchers from the University of Oslo have conducted a fascinating study titled "Truncated Photon," which explores the theoretical implications of splitting a photon using its wave-particle duality. They discovered that removing an optical shutter while reflecting a photon can lead to a complicated state involving photon numbers up to infinity, resulting in a superposition of modes and the creation of multiple new photons. By analyzing these dynamics through quantum field theory, the researchers revealed that this process creates a "tug on the quantum field," pulling photons from the nearby vacuum and resulting in a sharp edge of superposed photons.