In a remarkable demonstration of scientific progress, a team of physicists at Oxford University has accomplished the feat of teleporting information between two quantum computers.
This experiment represents a significant leap forward, proving that networks of quantum devices can be successfully expanded without compromising their efficiency—paving the way for quantum technologies to scale up.
The Experiment
Within the confines of a laboratory and spanning a mere two meters, this experiment paves the way for the realization of a quantum version of the internet, featuring a network of linked quantum systems. The study’s lead scientist, Dougal Main, from Oxford University, has noted: “Our research has shown how quantum teleportation can facilitate interactions between parts of a quantum system that are spatially separated.”
The Method
Employing the bewildering phenomenon of quantum entanglement, this method allows for the transmission of a quantum particle’s identity to another across a distance. This is done by using the special properties of quantum states, which, unlike definitive binary states of conventional computing, remain uncertain until observed. Quantum computers make use of qubits, which can occupy several states at the same time, making entanglement a crucial factor.
Addressing Technical Barriers
Addressing technical barriers such as error correction and preserving the coherence of quantum information when transferred over networks, teleportation offers a solution by conveying the quantum state information in the form of classical data. This allows the receiver in a quantum computer network to reconstruct the original state of the entangled particle.
The Efficiency
The efficiency of this experiment was highlighted by the high accuracy (86 percent) in replicating the quantum state that was teleported and performing a notorious quantum search algorithm (Grover’s algorithm) with 71 percent efficiency over multiple quantum processors. Main elaborates, “By linking the modules through photonic connections, we substantially enhance the versatility of our system.”
A Landmark Achievement
This landmark achievement not only points towards the potential expansion and evolution of quantum networks, but it also extends the horizon for quantum computers to profoundly contribute to our understanding of fundamental physics. The findings uncork a new chapter in the study of quantum mechanics and pave the path for the future development of intricate quantum networks.
The Publication
The extensive implications and results of this groundbreaking work are thoroughly documented in the prestigious scientific journal Nature, promising to be a cornerstone reference in the field of quantum technology.
