A quantum internet may very well be the first quantum information technology to become reality.
Researchers at QuTech in Delft, The Netherlands, today published a comprehensive guide towards this goal in Science. It describes six phases, starting with simple networks of qubits that could already enable secure quantum communications – a phase that could be reality in the near future. The development ends with networks of fully quantum-connected quantum computers. In each phase, new applications become available such as extremely accurate clock synchronization or integrating different telescopes on Earth in one virtual ‘supertelescope’. This work creates a common language that unites the highly interdisciplinary field of quantum networking towards achieving the dream of a world-wide quantum internet.
A quantum internet will revolutionize communication technology by exploiting phenomena from quantum physics, such as entanglement. Researchers are working on technology that enables the transmission of quantum bits between any two points on earth. Such quantum bits can be ‘0’ and ‘1’ at the same time, and can be ‘entangled’: their fates are merged in such a way that an operation on one of the qubits instantly affects the state of the other.
This brings two features which are provably out of reach for the Internet that we know today. The first is that entanglement allows improved coordination between distant sites. This makes it extremely suitable for tasks such as clock synchronization or the linking of distant telescopes to obtain better images. The second is that entanglement is inherently secure. If two quantum bits are maximally entangled, then nothing else in the universe can have any share in that entanglement. This feature makes entanglement uniquely suitable for applications that require security and privacy.
Many other applications of a quantum internet are already known, and more are likely to be discovered as the first networks come online. Researchers at QuTech, a collaboration between Delft University of Technology and the Netherlands organisation for applied scientific research TNO have now set forth stages of quantum internet development distinguished by technological capabilities and corresponding applications.
The lowest stage of a true quantum network – a prepare and measure network – allows the end-to-end delivery of quantum bits between any two network nodes, one quantum bit at a time. This is already sufficient to support many cryptographic applications of a quantum network. The highest stage is the long-term goal of connecting large quantum computers on which arbitrary quantum applications can be executed.
In addition to providing a guide to further development, the work sets challenges both to engineering efforts and to the development of applications. “On the one hand, we would like to build ever more advanced stages of such at network”, says Stephanie Wehner, lead author of the work, “On the other hand, quantum software developers are challenged to reduce the requirements of application protocols so they can be realized already with the more modest technological capabilities of a lower stage.” Co-author Ronald Hanson adds: “This work establish a much-needed common language between the highly interdisciplinary field of quantum networking spanning physics, computer science and engineering.”
The first true quantum networks, allowing the end-to-end transmission of quantum bits, are expected to be realized in the coming years, heralding the dawn of a large-scale quantum internet.
Learn more: QuTech researchers put forward a roadmap for quantum internet development
The Latest on: Quantum internet
[google_news title=”” keyword=”quantum internet” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Quantum internet
- Why Banks Should be Taking Quantum Security Very Seriouslyon April 23, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Work out from there, securing communications – perhaps with an end-to-end quantum-safe messenger – to your entire infrastructure. To avoid the issues associated with interoperability, look to the ...
- University of Copenhagen: Internet Speeds Could Achieve Quantum Levels with Light Stored as Soundon April 22, 2024 at 10:53 pm
Just beneath Niels Bohr's old office is a basement where scattered tables are covered with small mirrors, lasers and an agglomeration of all types of devices connected by webs of wires and heaps of ...
- Crucial Connection Completed: Laying the Foundation for the Quantum Interneton April 19, 2024 at 1:45 pm
Researchers have produced, stored, and retrieved quantum information for the first time, a critical step in quantum networking. The ability to share quantum information is crucial for developing ...
- Major First: Quantum Information Produced, Stored, And Retrievedon April 17, 2024 at 9:43 pm
The potential of quantum computing is immense, but the distances over which entangled particles can reliably carry information remains a massive hurdle.
- Researchers Transmit and Read Quantum Information for the First Timeon April 17, 2024 at 5:00 pm
This could be the first step toward an ultra-secure, ultra-fast quantum internet. Quantum computing aims to take advantage of the properties of physical matter at the smallest scales. This is ...
- How a Quantum Drum Could Change Everything About the Interneton April 16, 2024 at 11:03 am
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen’s Niels Bohr Institute have developed a new way to create quantum memory: A small drum can store data sent with light in its sonic vibrations, and then ...
- Researchers create 'quantum drums' to store qubits — one step closer to groundbreaking internet speed and securityon April 16, 2024 at 10:39 am
Quantum drums capable of storing and converting existing light data (i.e. fiber optic cables) may be integral to the future of a quantum-powered Internet with interconnected quantum computing devices.
- Crucial connection for 'quantum internet' made for the first timeon April 16, 2024 at 8:37 am
Researchers have produced, stored, and retrieved quantum information for the first time, a critical step in quantum networking.
- Crucial connection for 'quantum internet' made for the first timeon April 15, 2024 at 5:00 pm
to connect is a critical task for future quantum networks." Long-distance communication In regular telecommunications -- like the internet or phone lines -- information can be lost over large ...
via Bing News