Last Updated on June 2, 2026 by Staff
In physics things can be divided into smaller parts. Tiny particles are thought to be indivisible. A new study in Physical Review Letters questions what happens when we try to “cut” a photon.
Researchers led by Johannes Skaar looked at what happens if a photon is interrupted by a fast optical shutter. The results are complex and unexpected.
Photon Behavior
Photons, the parts of light act like both tiny particles and waves. This wave-like nature lets a photon exist over an area not just at one point.
The team imagined a device called a shutter. It’s like a fast mirror that can block or let light pass instantly. If triggered at the moment it could cut a photon’s path in two.
The team used math to analyze what happens after this interruption. They looked at how the photons state changes.
Infinite Photons
The results were surprising. By making two photons the system creates a state with an infinite number of photons.
In terms the photon doesn’t split. The interruption disturbs the field creating many photon-like excitations.
Quantum theory says even empty space has fluctuating fields. When the shutter switches on and off it interacts with these fluctuations making photons.
This leads to an outcome: the system has many possible states with different photon numbers potentially infinite.
Hidden Simplicity
Despite the complexity the phenomenon has a simple feature. If you look at one side of the shutter it seems normal.
One side looks like it has a photon while the other appears empty. Locally everything seems okay.
When you analyze the whole system the true quantum nature shows up. The simple local observations hide a structure with infinite superpositions of photon states.
This highlights an aspect of quantum mechanics: reality can seem simple in parts but become very different when viewed as a whole.
Deeper Implications
The study raises questions about how quantum systems behave when disturbed and how information is distributed. It challenges ideas about measurement and separation of quantum states.
The researchers suggest this phenomenon isn’t for photons. Future work will explore if similar effects happen with photons or other particles, like electrons.
If confirmed, these findings could deepen our understanding of quantum field theory and vacuum fluctuations. They reinforce the idea that at the level even simple actions can produce complex outcomes.
The study shows that the quantum world doesn’t always follow expectations. Even trying to divide a photon can lead to a realm of physics.