Although many science fiction works depict the scene of "instant transmission" of characters to another place, this idea is still a myth However, according to a new study published in the journal Nature on May 25, 2022, we seem to be one step closer to the real-time transmission of data Specifically, scientists have created a set of data transmission methods called "quantum bit teleportation".
Video screenshot (via qutech)
A team of physicists at Delft University of technology in the Netherlands explained that the research breakthrough will allow data to flow freely without passing through media such as conductive copper cable or optical fiber.
Although many technology giants are seeking to realize the "quantum hegemony" of quantum computers, their application scenarios are still quite limited in the absence of the blessing of "quantum Internet".
The Boolean value of binary used in traditional computers can only be "0" or "1" (bit), while a qubit can have superposition states at the same time.
From Alice to Charlie the next step for the quantum internet - QuTech（via）
To get back to business, the Delft University of technology team tried to transfer data between three nodes (previously only between two points).
Through this experiment, scientists have verified that the "teleportation" of qubits can be realized between multiple sites.
"At present, we are building a small quantum network in the laboratory, but the final idea is to establish a set of fully functional quantum Internet," said Ronald Hanson, a physicist at the University and leader of the research team.
Study graph - 1: quantum bit state transfer between non adjacent nodes
Tracy Eleanor Northup from the Institute of experimental physics at the University of Innsbruck, who is also exploring quantum teleportation, pointed out:
Take Google as an example. Today's web server will know what you want to run on its server. But quantum computers can solve related problems without involving secrets in this regard.
As for the qubits required for the operation of quantum computers, they take advantage of the strange behavior of particles at very small (such as electrons / light particles) or near absolute zero.
Figure 2: Research on high fidelity entangled network links
Looking ahead, researchers predict that quantum computers can accelerate the development of new drugs, promote the development of artificial intelligence technology, and even be used to create more secure encryption technology.
Since no conductive medium is needed between any nodes of quantum communication, quantum Internet can still realize reliable transmission between nodes without losing any actual data even in the case of high loss of connection.
It takes advantage of the quantum property called "entanglement" - when the state of one set of quantum systems changes, the other entangled will change accordingly no matter how far away.
Figure 3: coherence and readout of memory qubits
It is worth mentioning that Dr. Hanson and his team used the nitrogen vacancy system to capture electrons through a small space in the synthetic diamond.
The research team has built three such systems and named them Alice, Bob and Charlie respectively.
During the experiment, they first sent a single photon (light particle) to Alice and Bob to entangle their two electrons (both given the same spin).
Close up of Alice, one of the three devices (from marieke de lorijn / qutech)
Then the researchers transferred the electronic state to the carbon core in Bob's synthetic diamond and entangled Charlie by releasing Bob's electrons.
Through such a set of quantum processes, researchers can entangle Alice, Bob and Charlie together, thus solving the problem of state transmission of quantum data between two non adjacent nodes.
Figure 4: quantum bit teleportation between non adjacent network nodes
To sum up, this method enables data to be transferred directly from Alice to Charlie because they are now entangled with each other.
When the data is transmitted by means of quantum bit teleportation, it will not be lost or even hindered. In theory, the encryption level can be improved to an unbreakable level.
Finally, although the current experiment of quantum bit state transmission is only carried out within a distance of about 60 feet, scientists hope to expand to a range of miles in the future, so as to finally build a highly secure and reliable new quantum computer or quantum Internet.