Scientists from the Neils Bohr institute and Harvard Univesity are workingon theories to build a photon-transistor for use in a quantum computer. Information is sent in bits, either a one or zero bit, using a photon. However the difficulty of creating such an application is daunting. Photons are extremely small their physical properties do not allow them to collide with one another unless they are highly focused. In the law of linear optics, light passes through each other and therefore it is impossible for one photon to physically impart information directly to another. Instead, they plan to use an atom as an intermediary, with one atom colliding with an atom that obsorbs and then passes on the information to another photon. Scientists have alrady discovered that microwaves can be focued in this way using superconducting nano-wire. Today we send information using optical cable with bit made up of millions of photons. Tomorrow, each photon can carry information.
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