Another ISS related post: thespacereporter published an article today about a quantum entanglement experiment on the International Space Station that will involve modifying an existing Nikkor 400mm lens to capture photons sent from scientists on Earth (with the help of NightPOD):
"Under the proposal put forth by a group of European researchers, scientists on the ISS would modify an existing Nikon 400 mm camera lens, aiming it back at Earth. The modified camera would then be equipped to receive entangle light particles, called photons, sent from scientists on Earth. One of the pair of entangled photons would then be transmitted nearly 250 miles to the ISS, where scientists could compare the state of the photons. Once entangled, each photon should react to changes in the other’s quantum spin — if one switches from up-spin to down-spin, the other should hypothetically do the same, instantly and regardless of the distance between them."
Additional information is available at iop.org. The detailed scientific article can be found here:
"We propose performing quantum optics experiments in a ground-to-space scenario using the International Space Station, which is equipped with a glass viewing window and a photographer's lens mounted on a motorized camera pod. A dedicated small add-on module with single-photon detection, time-tagging and classical communication capabilities would enable us to perform the first-ever quantum optics experiments in space. We present preliminary design concepts for the ground and flight segments and study the feasibility of the intended mission scenario."
Images credit: NASA, Nikon.
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