Northwestern University engineers have accomplished a significant feat by successfully demonstrating quantum teleportation through fiber optic cables while simultaneously carrying regular Internet traffic. Led by Professor Prem Kumar, the team published their findings in Optica on December 20, challenging previous assumptions about quantum communication infrastructure.
The key innovation lies in their ability to transmit quantum information alongside conventional data without interference. They solved this by identifying specific wavelengths where light scattering was minimal and implementing special filters to protect the quantum signals. Using a 30-kilometer fiber optic cable, they proved that single photons carrying quantum information could coexist with the millions of light particles used in classical communications.
The process relies on quantum entanglement, where linked particles can exchange information instantaneously regardless of distance. This could enable nearly instantaneous communication, limited only by the speed of light. What makes this breakthrough particularly significant is its practical implications: instead of requiring separate infrastructure for quantum communications, existing fiber optic networks could potentially serve both classical and quantum data transmission.
Professor Kumar and his team are now planning to extend their experiments to longer distances and test the technology on real-world underground optical cables. They’re also working on demonstrating entanglement swapping using two pairs of entangled photons, which would be another crucial step toward distributed quantum applications.
The implications are substantial for the future of quantum communications. By showing that quantum and classical signals can share the same fiber optic infrastructure, this research opens a practical path toward implementing quantum networks without the need for entirely new infrastructure. This could significantly accelerate the development and adoption of quantum communication technologies.
Reference: “Quantum teleportation coexisting with classical communications in optical fiber” 20 December 2024, Optica.
