The rate at which things vibrate is determined by frequency. Precise frequencies can be used to address the issues that create symptoms and health conditions, and to support your body to heal itself.

The strange rules of quantum physics allow particles to be in superpositions of different energy states at the same time, but only for a short amount of time. To measure the frequency of a signal–like the swinging pendulum on a grandfather clock–scientists must then shift the particle around these superpositions at the correct rate to determine the frequency.

Planck’s equation tells us that electromagnetic radiation has a specific energy, and can only be emitted or absorbed in certain discrete amounts, known as quantum frequencies. This is because, if you think of an object as both a wave and a particle at the same time, it’s hard to get two incompatible properties to coexist.

Scientists have now used this “spooky” property of quantum mechanics to create a new way to measure frequency. Their results, published in Physical Review Letters, could lead to more precise clocks and GPS systems, sharper and quicker MRI medical imaging devices, and even better analysis of light emitting from stars.

To achieve this, the scientists rely on a technique called quantum frequency conversion. They generate single photons at telecommunications wavelengths from a semiconductor quantum dot and extract them into an optical fiber. These single photons are then combined with a strong 1550 nm pump laser in a periodically poled lithium niobate nanophotonic waveguide to perform quantum frequency mixing. quantum frequency