E-Mail IMAGE: A light field with time-dependent frequencies - propagating in a waveguide. Due to self-compression the pulse addresses individual quantum emitters. view more Credit: University of Innsbruck In order to exploit the properties of quantum physics technologically, quantum objects and their interaction must be precisely controlled. In many cases, this is done using light. Researchers at the University of Innsbruck and the Institute of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences have now developed a method to individually address quantum emitters using tailored light pulses. "Not only is it important to individually control and read the state of the emitters," says Oriol Romero-Isart, "but also to do so while leaving the system as undisturbed as possible." Together with Juan Jose? Garci?a-Ripoll (IQOQI visiting fellow) from the Instituto de Fi?sica Fundamental in Madrid, Romero-Isart's research group has now investigated how specifically engineered pulses can be used to focus light on a single quantum emitter.