Scientists have made a surprising discovery: they have managed to manipulate light particles in such a way that they can exist in 37 dimensions at the same time. This breakthrough, published in Science Advances, opens up new possibilities in quantum computing and information transmission.

What Does It Mean to Exist in 37 Dimensions?

Imagine that a light particle (a photon) is like a player in a video game, but instead of moving in just three directions (left-right, forward-backward, up-down), it has 37 different paths to travel at the same time. This is not something we can see in the normal world, but in the quantum world, it is possible.

The scientists used a special technique called temporal multiplexing, which allows them to control light at different moments and combine those variations into a single particle. In this way, they have managed to make a single photon have 37 different states simultaneously, something that previously seemed impossible.

To achieve this result, the researchers used optical fibers and high-speed modulators. Essentially, they created a “light processor” that manipulates photons with extreme precision.

Photons 37 dimensions
Detailed experimental setup: The blue lines denote optical fibers, and the red strokes indicate light propagating in free-space sessions. Electronic connections are denoted by gray lines. The beam-splitter ports marked with the same color have higher transmissivity. AFG, arbitrary function generator; IM, intensity modulator; Osc., oscilloscope; PM, phase modulator; PZT, piezoelectric fiber stretcher. Credit: Zheng-Hao Liu et al.

What’s incredible about this experiment is that it doesn’t rely on a single quantum trick, but rather a combination of advanced techniques that allow increasing the complexity of light states without the need for massive or expensive systems.

Why Is It Important?

This discovery not only demonstrates that light can exist in many dimensions simultaneously, but it could also change the future of quantum computing. Quantum computing uses particles like photons to perform calculations that would be impossible for a normal computer.

By having 37 dimensions in a single photon, scientists can process more information at once, which could make quantum computers faster and more efficient. It also opens the door to more secure forms of communication, as information encoded in these multiple dimensions would be almost impossible to hack.

Although this experiment is just a first step, practical applications are already being explored. In the future, we could see ultra-fast and secure communication networks or quantum computers capable of solving problems that today seem impossible.

Light has been a fundamental tool in science and technology, but this discovery shows us that it still has secrets to reveal. With these advances, we are getting closer and closer to a world where the rules of quantum physics will transform the way we understand the universe and develop technology.

SOURCES

Zheng-Hao Liu et al., Exploring the boundary of quantum correlations with a time-domain optical processor. Sci. Adv. 11, eabd8080(2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd8080

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