First author Dr Benjamin Yuen, from the university’s School of Physics and Astronomy, explained: “Our calculations allowed us to convert a seemingly intractable problem into something that can be calculated. And, almost as a byproduct of the model, we were able to produce this image of a photon, something that has never been seen before in physics.

This work is important because it opens new avenues of research for quantum physicists and materials science. By being able to precisely define how a photon interacts with matter and other elements in its environment, scientists can design new nanophotonic technologies that could change the way we communicate safely, detect pathogens or control chemical reactions at the molecular level for example.

Co-author Professor Angela Demetriadou, also from the University of Birmingham, said: “The geometry and optical properties of the environment have profound consequences on how photons are emitted, including defining the shape , color and even the probability that they are emitted. exist.”

Dr Benjamin Yuen added: “This work helps us to increase our understanding of the energy exchange between light and matter, and secondly to better understand how light radiates in its near and far environment. Much of this information was previously considered just “noise” – but it contains so much information that we can now make sense of it and use it. By understanding this, we have laid the foundation to be able to engineer light-matter interactions for future applications, such as better sensors, improved photovoltaic cells, or quantum computing.