Quantum Leap

Like quantum computing, the ability to build a quantum Internet has been the “Golden Fleece” of physicists worldwide. Recently, Chinese scientists reported transmitting quantum information from one location to another – a difficult task in light of the fact that the simple task of measuring quantum bits (or qubits) destroys them.

Unlike standard bits, which are encoded as ones or zeroes, qubits can simultaneously be a one, a zero, or both. In addition, they possess a mysterious property known as entanglement, which allows two quantum particles to be inextricably linked so that, no matter how far apart they are, what happens to one will instantly influence the other. It is because of this influence that quantum information can be transmitted from one point to another without even needing to pass through the space between them – kind of like teleportation.

The researchers used ensembles of rubidium atoms to transmit quantum information over a distance of 150 meters – the first demonstration of teleportation from one macroscropic object to another. In addition to networking superfast computers, the implications for a quantum Internet include the ability for totally secure communications.