Free electrons as a source of nonclassical light

Quantum physics Nature Physics (2025)Cite this article Photon sources used in quantum optics are limited in ways that free electron sources may not be. Now, accelerated electrons have been shown to generate non-classical light — this opens up possibilities for quantum experiments at the nanoscale.This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription $32.99 / 30 days cancel any timeSubscribe to this journal Receive 12 print issues and online access $259.00 per yearonly $21.58 per issueBuy this articlePrices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkoutAspect, A., Dalibard, J. & Roger, G. Phys. Rev. Lett. 49, 1804–1807 (1982).Article ADS MathSciNet Google Scholar Arend, G. et al. Nat. Phys. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-03033-1 (2025).Article Google Scholar Bendaña, X., Polman, A. & García de Abajo, J. Nano Lett. 11, 5099–103 (2011).Article ADS Google Scholar Kfir, O. Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 103602 (2019).Article ADS Google Scholar Tizei, L. H. G. & Kociak, M. Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 153604 (2013).Article ADS Google Scholar Feist, A. et al. Nature 521, 200–203 (2015).Article ADS Google Scholar Nabben, D. et al. Nature 619, 63–67 (2023).Article ADS Google Scholar Haindl, R. et al. Nat. Phys. 19, 1410–1417 (2023).Article Google Scholar Feist, A. et al. Science 377, 777–780 (2022).Article ADS Google Scholar Lodahl, P. et al. Nat. Publ. Gr. 541, 473–480 (2017).

Google Scholar Download referencesCEMES-CNRS, Toulouse, FranceSophie Meuret & Hugo Lourenço-MartinsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarCorrespondence to Sophie Meuret or Hugo Lourenço-Martins.The authors declare no competing interests.Reprints and permissionsMeuret, S., Lourenço-Martins, H. Free electrons as a source of nonclassical light. Nat. Phys. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-03082-6Download citationPublished: 03 November 2025Version of record: 03 November 2025DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-03082-6Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative