e: Computer scientists have achieved a revolutionary breakthrough by teleporting the quantum state of light through 30 kilometers of optical cable despite high levels of internet traffic. This feat, once considered unattainable, marks a significant step toward integrating quantum technology into existing internet infrastructure.
A research team led by Prem Kumar from Northwestern University successfully demonstrated how quantum and classical communication can coexist within a single network. “This discovery paves the way for next-generation networks that utilize shared optical fiber infrastructure,” Kumar stated.
What is Quantum Teleportation?
Quantum teleportation enables the transfer of quantum states from one location to another by destroying the original state and recreating it at a new location. The key element of this process is quantum entanglement, which allows the transmission of information between two connected particles.
One of the biggest challenges was protecting fragile quantum states from decoherence, i.e., the loss of information due to external interference. The team addressed this by studying the behavior of light within optical fibers and tuning photons to a wavelength with minimal disturbances.
Integration of the Quantum Internet
The experiment also showed that quantum communications can operate alongside classical internet traffic at speeds of up to 400 gigabits per second without mutual interference. This discovery, published in the journal Optica, is the first step toward creating a quantum internet that does not require the construction of entirely new infrastructure.
“With proper wavelength tuning, classical and quantum communications can share the same networks,” Kumar concluded, highlighting the potential for significant cost savings and accelerated development of quantum technology.
