Scientists Advance Quantum Signaling with Twisted Light Technology
December 2, 2025 — In a groundbreaking development, materials scientists at Stanford University have unveiled a tiny nanoscale device capable of entangling light and electron spins at room temperature, potentially revolutionizing the fields of quantum cryptography, computing, and artificial intelligence.
Current Challenges in Quantum Computing
Quantum computers today are typically large, expensive machines that require operation near absolute zero temperatures (approximately -459 degrees Fahrenheit) to maintain quantum coherence. This super-cooling necessity makes such systems impractical for widespread use. The fragility of electron spin—the quantum property essential for encoding qubits—is the major limiting factor, as spins tend to lose alignment rapidly under normal conditions.
Twisted Light and Quantum Entanglement at Room Temperature
The new device, developed by Professor Jennifer Dionne and her team, overcomes this barrier by using “twisted light” to create stable quantum entanglement between photon spins and electron spins without the need for cryogenic cooling. Twisted light refers to photons with spins that rotate in a corkscrew pattern, enabling them to impart their spin orientation onto electrons.
At the core of this innovation is a meticulously engineered nanoscale structure: a thin patterned layer of molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2), a member of the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) family known for favorable optical and quantum properties. This layer sits atop a nanopatterned silicon substrate designed to manipulate photons with high precision.
"The silicon nanostructures enable what we call ‘twisted light,’" explains Feng Pan, postdoctoral scholar and first author of the study. "These spinning photons can transfer their spin to electrons, which are the building blocks of quantum information."
Implications for Quantum Technologies
By utilizing this approach, the researchers have created qubits—quantum bits—that are stable at room temperature. This achievement addresses one of the biggest hurdles in quantum technology: qubit decoherence due to thermal fluctuations.
"The material itself isn’t new, but our method of control is," says Professor Dionne. "This device provides a versatile and stable spin connection fundamental to quantum communication."
Because the device operates at ambient temperatures, it promises to significantly reduce the size, cost, and complexity associated with existing quantum computers and communication systems. This advancement could enable practical quantum devices that communicate across long distances and may eventually integrate into everyday technologies.
Future Directions and Vision
Collaborating with experts in TMDCs, including Professors Fang Liu and Tony Heinz, the team is exploring further refinements to improve quantum performance. They are also investigating alternative material combinations and ways to embed such devices into larger quantum networks, which will require new high-quality light sources, modulators, detectors, and interconnects.
"The ultimate goal is to miniaturize quantum systems to the point they can be incorporated into common devices," Dionne notes. "Imagine quantum computing capabilities on your smartphone—that’s a decade-long vision we’re working toward."
The full research details were published in the journal Nature Communications:
Feng Pan et al., "Room-temperature valley-selective emission in Si-MoSe2 heterostructures enabled by high-quality-factor chiroptical cavities," Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-66502-4. This breakthrough could pave the way for new quantum technologies in cryptography, advanced sensing, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence, heralding a new era of low-energy, affordable quantum devices accessible beyond laboratory settings.
Provided by Stanford University via Phys.org
