NASA achieves the first long-distance quantum teleportation!

A joint team of researchers from Caltech, the Department of Energy’s Fermilab, AT&T, Harvard University, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab and the University of Calgary announced that they have succeeded in teleport photon qubits over approximately 27 miles (43.4523 kilometers) of fiber optic cable, by Fermilab.

Similar projects had been carried out in the past; However, this one stands out from the others because it is the first to teleport quantum information over such a great distance.

The experiment, carried out using « off-the-shelf » equipment compatible with both existing telecommunications infrastructure and emerging quantum technologies, could « provide a realistic basis for a high-fidelity quantum Internet with practical devices », the researchers told Motherboard.

The study was published in the journal PRX Quantum.

Revolutionizing data storage and computing

Scientists were able to send qubits, which work by replacing traditional bits with quantum bits, through 27 miles (43.4523 kilometers) of fiber optic cable with a network built with off-the-shelf equipment. In addition, the researchers were able to carry out the experiment on two separate networks and with a fidelity greater than 90%.

Scientists say this achievement will usher in a new era of communication, according to Independent. Once this achievement is used to develop a quantum internet service, it could revolutionize the data storage and IT.

According to the researchers, the team has worked persistently and « with their heads down in recent years. »

Panagiotis Spentzouris, head of the quantum science program at Fermilab, wrote in an email to Motherboard: « We wanted to push the boundaries of this type of research and take important steps on the path to realizing real-world applications for communications and quantum networks and testing fundamental physics ideas.”

“So when we finally succeeded, the team was delighted, very proud to have achieved these high quality and record results,” he explained further. “And we are very excited to be able to move to the next phase, using the know-how and technologies from this work for the deployment of quantum networks.”

Does this mean you should sign up with a quantum internet service provider? Not really. In response to pleasant questions on social media, Maria Spiropulu, Shang-Yi Ch’en, professor of physics at Caltech, said: « We need (much) more R&D work. »