Quantum Optics Setup Mirrored on Vibration Table

Dappled sunlight falls through broad green leaves, casting shifting patches of bright yellow and deep shadow across a laboratory bench near Chongqing. A complex arrangement of optical components, including lenses and mirrors mounted on a sturdy metal frame, sits centered on a gray vibration isolation table. The setup is perfectly symmetrical, with identical assemblies extending left and right from a central beam splitter. Humid air hangs heavy in the space, evidenced by the slight sheen on the polished metal surfaces and the condensation forming on the cooler optical mounts. The turn of the season shows in the mix of vibrant green leaves and a few turning to brown at the edges. Light reflects sharply off the glass elements, creating crisp points of brilliance against the matte black brackets. One dust mote floats in a shaft of light near the right edge of the frame.