Physicists stored data in quantum holograms made of twisted light

A blue spiral that coalesces into a white ball of light against a black background

A new experiment creates data-storing holograms from spiraling particles of light.

DrPixel/Moment/Getty Images Plus

Particles of twisted light that have been entangled using quantum mechanics offer a new approach to dense and secure data storage.

Holograms that produce 3-D images and serve as security features on credit cards are usually made with patterns laid down with beams of laser light. In recent years, physicists have found ways to create holograms with entangled photons instead. Now there is, literally, a new twist to the technology.

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