Scientists on the verge of making the quantum internet possible?
In a new study, experts from the Ludwig-Maximilian University (LMU) succeeded in connect two materials by quantum entanglement. As part of this work, they used rubidium atoms, located 33 kilometers apart. They used a fiber optic cable laid through many reels to directly connect the atoms together.
Experts believe this research is a breakthrough in innovations leading to the quantum internet. This means that the data transmission would be through a better network than those available to communicate today.
Using a conventional structure to build a futuristic model
The use oflaser pulse on both atoms allowed photons to add to the equation. The process also caused the atoms to spin and quantum become entangled through the particle’s polarization. It’s about a “polarization-preserving quantum frequency conversion”. The experience consisted to double the wavelength of the photon, from 780 nanometers to 1517 nanometers.
A higher scale of the photon wavelength allowed to increase the transmission, thus, cable communication may have been a success. The atoms and the photons that connect them were balanced, resulting in a pattern of quantum entanglement. Since the photon’s reach through the cable allowed the entanglement, it also caused the pair of rubidium atoms to become entangled.
The device constructed from the two materials would act as nodes of “quantum memory “. They would be interconnected even though they are located through a vast communication network. Experts have highlighted the potential of this model despite the use of conventional fiber optic cables.
Quantum entanglement could help access the quantum internet
Quantum entanglement is one of the different faces of physics. In this model, materials and particles are related in some way, regardless of their location and the distance between them in space. This connection would make the physical states of the materials similar. Besides, they would share common properties despite their distance. Moreover, changing one would instantly impact the others.
This new research is the first to successfully apply quantum entanglement using atomic particles. According to Tim van Leent, LMU scientist and lead author of the study, the importance of his team’s work would be the realization of the entanglement between two stationary particlesin this specific case atoms serving as quantum memories.
Although the process is complicated to perform, the model would open up new possibilities for other scientific applications. He would allow quantum internet access using traditional structures based on fiber optics.
SOURCE: SCIENCETIMES
