What is Light?
Professor Pieter Kok describes what we know and don’t know about the physics of light.
What is Light?
This question has fascinated physicists for hundreds of years.
Despite our understanding now being at an advanced level, there are still things about photons that we really don’t understand. In this video, we describe what the universe looks like from the perspective of a photon, and how paradoxes arise when we think about detecting of photons. This leads us to the surprising conclusion that we can never point to a time at which a photon really exists!
Although there are still mysteries, we use photons very widely in a range of technologies.
Here, we touch upon two applications that are of increasing importance: quantum computers based on entangled photons, and the use of solar cells to power the world.
This short video is recorded at various iconic locations around Sheffield and highlights the growing importance of photons in modern society.
Credits
The Research
- Professor David Lidzey, Professor of Physics at the University of Sheffield
- Professor Pieter Kok, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Sheffield
The Film
- Starring Pieter Kok
- Written by David Lidzey and Pieter Kok
- Directed and Produced by Rob Speranza
- Camera / Lighting by Kaitlyn Taylor
- Drone Footage by Paul Stinson
- Animation by Gary Mellor
- Edited by Scot Speranza and Rob Speranza
Further Information
- University of Sheffield Quantum Centre
- Electronic and Photonic Molecular Materials research group
- Project support by the Science & Technology Funding Council KEIA Public Engagement Fund.
