Scientists have achieved a breakthrough in quantum teleportation, successfully transmitting quantum information over fiber optic cables. This groundbreaking achievement, while not involving the teleportation of physical objects, marks a significant advancement in quantum communication technology. This development has the potential to revolutionize various fields, including secure communication and quantum computing, according to BBC Science Focus Magazine.
Significant Breakthrough
Quantum teleportation relies on entangled particles, which remain connected despite distance. However, transmitting these delicate particles through existing fiber optic networks, filled with other signals, was previously thought to be impossible, like a bicycle navigating a busy highway.
The Northwestern team overcame this challenge by identifying a specific wavelength for the quantum particles that minimizes interference from other signals. They also implemented filters to reduce noise from regular internet traffic.
Successful experiments demonstrated that quantum information could be transmitted through a 30km fiber optic cable alongside regular internet traffic without significant degradation.
This breakthrough is significant as it demonstrates the feasibility of quantum teleportation within existing infrastructure, eliminating the need for costly new networks and bringing its practical applications closer to reality. “This is incredibly exciting because nobody thought it was possible,” said Prof Prem Kumar of Northwestern University in the US, who led the study. “Our work shows a path towards next-generation quantum and classical networks sharing a unified fibre optic infrastructure. It opens the door to pushing quantum communications to the next level.”
“With 2025 designated by the UN as the International Year of Quantum Technology, this research is very timely,” Prof Jim Al-Khalili, who was not involved in the study, told BBC Science Focus.
“Quantum teleportation has been demonstrated before, but only under very careful laboratory conditions. The problem is that quantum-entangled particles used to teleport information quickly become entangled with everything else along their path.
“The entirety of telecommunications technology (and indeed the internet) relies on transmitting light (photons) through optical fibres. This work is the first demonstration of quantum teleportation of entangled photons through busy optical fibres carrying conventional telecommunications traffic.”
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Source: BBC Science Focus Magazine
