TechnologyAugust 18, 2026

photon

FO-ton

Definition

A fundamental particle representing a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation, which acts as the basic unit of information in quantum communication systems.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek word 'phōs' (light) and the suffix '-on' (used in physics to denote subatomic particles). It was coined in 1926 by chemist Gilbert N. Lewis.

In the news

In this article, individual photons must be generated to ensure secure data transmission; the researchers developed nanostructures to improve the efficiency of these single-photon sources.

TUM Creates Single-Photon Sources for Quantum Tech

Read the full article ↗

Mirage News

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