Researchers from the University of Warsaw have unveiled a revolutionary device – a super-resolution spectrometer that uses information hidden in photons. A team led by Michał Parniak, PhD, working in the Laboratory for Quantum Optical Devices at the UW Department of Physics and the Center for New Technologies, has designed a spectrometer capable of analyzing short pulses of light with unprecedented precision. The results of their research were published in the prestigious scientific journal Optica.

The new device, dubbed SUSI (Super-resolution of Ultrafast pulses via Spectral Inversion), offers a more than twofold improvement in resolution compared to existing spectroscopic technologies. Spectroscopy, crucial in the study of light emitted by various substances and stars, can now take advantage of the full information carried by light, allowing more precise discrimination of closely spaced optical channels or spectral lines.

The biggest innovation in SUSI is the use of techniques inspired by quantum super-resolution methods. Through the use of Fourier transform, the device allows light analysis with previously unattainable accuracy. What’s more, its design makes it possible to miniaturize the system on a photonic chip, which opens the door to practical applications in telecommunications, matter research, as well as astronomy.

The development of this high-tech spectrometer was made possible thanks to the support of the National Science Center and PRELUDIUM grant, as well as cooperation within the “Quantum Optical Technologies” program funded by the Foundation for Polish Science. The new developments have the potential to significantly revolutionize the future of quantum technologies and optical networks. They represent an important step toward advanced scientific research.