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Breakthrough in Quantum Teleportation Through Existing Internet Cables
Engineers at Northwestern University have achieved a groundbreaking feat by successfully demonstrating quantum teleportation across a fiber optic cable that is simultaneously carrying regular Internet traffic. This development paves the way for integrating quantum communication into our existing online infrastructure, simplifying the groundwork needed for advanced quantum sensing and computing systems.
The details of this significant study are set to be published in the journal Optica on December 20th.
“This is incredibly exciting because nobody thought it was possible,” stated Prem Kumar, the lead researcher of the study. “Our findings illuminate a pathway for next-generation quantum and classical networks to operate over a shared fiber optic infrastructure. This fundamentally opens the door for elevating the potential of quantum communications.”
As an expert in the field of quantum communication and a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering, Kumar also directs the Center for Photonic Communication and Computing.
Quantum teleportation, which operates at the speed of light, has the potential to make information transmission nearly instantaneous. This technique utilizes quantum entanglement, where two particles are interconnected regardless of their physical separation. Instead of traditional methods where particles must travel to send information, entangled particles can convey data across vast distances instantaneously, without the need for physical travel.
“In optical communications, all forms of signals are converted into light,” Kumar notes. “While classical communication typically utilizes millions of light particles, quantum information relies on single photons.”
Historically, the assumption was that these delicate individual photons would struggle to transmit information amidst the overwhelming presence of numerous light particles in conventional cables. Kumar likened this scenario to a fragile bicycle attempting to navigate through a throng of fast-moving trucks in a tunnel.
However, Kumar and his research team discovered an innovative approach to enable fragile photons to avoid the crowded channels. Through extensive analysis of light scattering behavior within fiber optic cables, they identified a less congested wavelength suitable for their photons. Additionally, they implemented specialized filters to minimize noise from existing Internet traffic.
“We meticulously studied the scattering of light and positioned our photons at a point that would reduce this scattering effect,” Kumar explained. “We demonstrated that quantum communication can occur without interference from the classical signals operating concurrently.”
To validate their method, Kunar and his team established a 30-kilometer-long fiber optic connection with a photon placed at each end. They were able to simultaneously transmit quantum data and standard Internet traffic through this setup. By conducting quantum measurements at the midpoint, the team assessed the quality of the received quantum information, successfully confirming that the quantum data was transmitted efficiently, despite the active Internet traffic.
Looking ahead, Kumar plans to expand these experiments across greater distances. Additionally, he intends to employ two pairs of entangled photons instead of just one pair in order to demonstrate a concept known as entanglement swapping, which is a crucial step toward realizing distributed quantum applications. The team is also investigating the feasibility of conducting experiments via existing underground optical cables rather than solely through controlled laboratory environments. Despite these subsequent phases of research, Kumar remains optimistic about the outlook for quantum communication.
“Quantum teleportation offers a means of establishing secure quantum connectivity among geographically dispersed nodes,” Kumar asserted. “For a long time, it was believed that specialized setups solely for sending light particles would not be realized. However, if we carefully select the appropriate wavelengths, we can avoid the necessity of new infrastructure. This outcome allows classical and quantum communications to coexist effectively.”
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