Researchers from the Netherlands have created a quantum scheme that allows you to listen to the weakest radio signal allowed by quantum mechanics.
Weak radio signals are a problem not only for listening to a radio station but also for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners in hospitals, as well as for telescopes that scientists use for observation in space. Researchers at the Delft University of Technology demonstrated the detection of photons or energy quanta, the weakest signals allowed by the theory of quantum mechanics. The developed scheme can detect these portions of energy in radio frequency signals, allowing to perceive radio waves at the quantum level.
Using such a quantum radio, researchers will be able to listen and control the quantum vibrations of heavy objects, as well as experimentally investigate what happens when quantum mechanics and gravity are mixed. A new quantum scheme opens the door to future developments in areas such as radio astronomy and medicine. It will also allow researchers to conduct experiments that can shed light on the interaction between quantum mechanics and gravity.