Quantum tech breakthrough: China’s double-photon device breaks efficiency ceiling

South China Morning PostEN 2 min read 100% complete by Dannie PengMarch 8, 2026 at 07:30 AM

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Chinese scientists at the Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have developed a highly efficient double-photon source. This device, detailed in Nature Materials this week, overcomes a significant challenge in quantum optics by emitting pairs of light particles on demand with 98.3% purity and 29.9% generation efficiency. This represents a new benchmark in the field. The breakthrough utilizes pulsed excitation conditions to achieve this performance. The technology has potential applications in medical imaging, encryption, and next-generation sensors due to the enhanced resolution and security offered by two-photon systems.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Germany 40% Leibniz University 40% Institute of Semiconductors 50% Ding Fei 50% Chinese Academy of Sciences 60% Yuan Zhiliang 70% Beijing 70% Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences 80% China 90%

Keywords

two-photon source 90% quantum optics 80% efficiency 70% quantum technology 70% single-photon devices 60% quantum dots 50% encryption 50% sensors 40% pulsed excitation 40% medical imaging 40%