Once thought to exist only in a science fiction novel, quantum teleportation is steadily turning into a reality and its implications vow to change the world.
Quantum teleportation doesn’t involve teleporting people or objects; rather, it is about teleporting properties of a particle like photon, without physically moving the particle.
This is possible due to a phenomenon called Quantum entanglement, in which two particles are deeply linked together even if they are billions of light years apart.
Researchers at Northwestern University successfully teleported quantum states of light through 30 km of fiber optic cables, which carry everyday internet.
While this is not the first time quantum teleportation has been achieved, it is the first time the process has been demonstrated through internet cables!
This represents a major advancement in integrating quantum communication with the existing internet infrastructure.
In 2022, researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China teleported quantum information over a record-breaking distance of 1,200 km through a satellite.
Using underground internet cables for quantum teleportation could be a start, but the eventual aim would be to build an infrastructure that does not rely on cables.
Quantum teleportation has profound implications, as it could lead to quantum networks that transmit data with unparalleled security.
Quantum communication uses entangled particles, therefore any eavesdropping or interference will disrupt the entangled state, alerting the sender and receiver.
Beyond security and the internet, quantum teleportation has the potential to turbocharge the pace of creating a scalable quantum computer.
The EU’s Quantum Internet Alliance is investing millions into building a continent-wide quantum communication network by 2030.
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