Quantum photonics records a quantized Hall drift of light for the first time.

Researchers report the first observation of a quantized Hall drift of light, extending a quantum transport effect previously observed with electrons. The quantum Hall effect is known for step-like plateaus tied to fundamental constants such as the electron charge and the Planck constant.

Researchers report the first observation of a quantized Hall drift of light, marking a new experimental milestone in quantum photonics. The finding is notable because the quantum Hall effect has historically been a property of charged particles like electrons. That effect appears in ultra-thin conductors at very low temperatures as step-like plateaus linked to fundamental constants. Photons are electrically neutral, so reproducing a Hall-like, quantized response with light was a longstanding experimental challenge. Key facts: - The article reports researchers have observed a quantized Hall drift of light for the first time. - The classical Hall effect produces a transverse voltage when an electric current meets a perpendicular magnetic field, causing electrons to drift sideways. - The quantum Hall effect appears as step-like plateaus in certain low-temperature, ultra-thin conductors and depends on fundamental constants such as the electron charge and the Planck constant. - The discovery of quantum Hall phenomena has been recognized with Nobel Prizes in 1985, 1998, and 2016. - Photons are electrically neutral and were previously considered immune to the electric and magnetic forces that produce Hall effects in charged particles, which made creating a photonic analogue a major challenge. Summary: This report extends a hallmark quantum transport signature—the quantized Hall response—to light, showing that photonic systems can exhibit a quantized transverse drift similar to that seen with electrons. Undetermined at this time.