Quantum computing is described as the future of computing, with faster, more secure and more advanced capabilities following a rapid rise in the quantum market over the past decade.
Now, researchers from a collaboration of technology companies say they have completed the first long-distance quantum teleportation, a break that could be a way to achieve quantum internet . Their results were published in PRX Quantum.
“We are very pleased with these results,” Panagiotis Spentzouris, head of Fermilab’s quantum science program and one of the paper’s co-authors, said in a statement.
“This is a key achievement on the path to building a technology that will redefine how we communicate globally.”
But what is quantum computing and quantum internet?
Well, first we need to understand how traditional computers work before we can study their space-age cousins. Computers work by using inputs called pulses, which are either ‘on’ or ‘off’, which get the numbers ‘1’ or ‘0’. From these entries, a computer can process a large number of calculations quickly, and by filling more switches into a computer chip that can be either 1 or 0, you can generate processing power. computer chip upgrade.
Now, let’s incorporate quantum states into the mix. Quantum grains are small complex particles that can be in three states as opposed to the two normal stages. In a computer, these can be either 1, 0, or both at the same time (called superposition). These represent a different type of input called qubits, and make up the basis of quantum computing.
To achieve full quantum internet, these qubits need to be transported over long distances from one device to another, similar to how ‘normal’ internet works. But as everything is quantum, data transfer is much more complicated than just taking it down an ethernet cable.
The researchers wanted to perform quantum teleportation, an activity in which qubits pass through modern fiber networks using interlocks. Quantum grains have a strange ability to bind together, becoming ‘connected’ to each other. If the entangled pair of grains is divided between two different locations, it is possible to intersect information – theoretically over long distances. However, a number of cases have prevented the implementation of quantum teleportation. For example, one theory states that you cannot copy quantum information directly (the theorem without cloning), so moving over distance may be unreliable.
Using off-the-shelf technology, the researchers were able to complete long-distance quantum teleportation. They achieved referrals over a distance of 44 kilometers (27.3 miles) with a fidelity (as accurate as the information) of 90%, a feat that no company had been able to achieve before. The researchers believe this is a major step towards computing and communication in the future.
Quantum internet would be a game changer for the tech world as we know it, with data moving faster, more secure, and perhaps impossible to steal. The move from mainstream to desktop computers is a dream come true for many researchers, and this looks set to become a reality.
There is still a way to go before quantum internet becomes a working reality. Quantum grains are still very difficult to study and measure, and their fidelity also needs to be improved before reliable data transmission can occur. Plus, a network like this is almost certainly going to be very expensive so it’s not feasible for most networks anytime soon, but we can only dream. Nevertheless, achieving quantum teleportation is a promising step forward.
“We are extremely proud to have achieved this milestone on stable, high-performance and scalable quantum teleportation systems,” said Maria Spiropulu, Shang-Yi Ch’en physics professor at Caltech and program director IN-Q-NET research, in a statement.
“Outcomes will be further enhanced by systems upgrades that we expect to complete by Q2 2021.”