Shaping quantum light for a more secure future
- Wits University
At Wits University’s Structured Light Laboratory, researchers are harnessing light to drive breakthroughs in secure communication and quantum technology.
Led by Distinguished Professor Andrew Forbes from the School of Physics, the lab operates at the intersection of classical optics, quantum physics, and artificial intelligence.
“We work across three main pillars,” explains Forbes. “Classical light, where we shape bright laser beams for specific applications; quantum light, where we work with single photons and entangled particles; and laser development, where we build lasers tailored to our needs.”
These capabilities enable advances in ultrafast and highly secure communication. While classical structured light boosts data transmission speeds, quantum light ensures data is virtually impossible to intercept. “If you encode your data into quantum states, the known laws of physics would have to be wrong for someone to decode it,” says Forbes.
The team’s work is also transforming imaging in challenging environments. Using structured quantum light, they have developed a quantum camera that can see through living tissue or tinted glass. “We can send one photon through the tissue and another to a regular camera. Together, they form an image that would otherwise be impossible to capture,” explains Forbes.
By integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning, they are developing cameras that not only see but also interpret what they capture, with potential applications such as detecting concealed weapons or identifying cancerous cells without invasive procedures.
“Our strength is that we have both the hardware and the software—the complete pipeline from producing structured data to understanding it,” says Forbes.
He credits Wits for fostering this pioneering research. “It’s a fantastically supportive environment that rewards great science and encourages innovation. At Wits, there are no barriers to making an impact.”
Through this work, the Structured Light Laboratory is advancing science and reinforcing Wits University’s position as a leader in innovation with purpose.
Professor Andrew Forbes is a Distinguished Professor in the Structured Light Laboratory at the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Physics, and a co-recipient of the 2024 Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award, presented on 15 July 2025.