4 ms·

'Nobody thought it was possible': Quantum teleportation is here

6 points by lastdong 2y ago

msie 2y ago
I thought it was physically impossible to transmit information instantaneously. Or at least you get no useful information transmitted.
- krapp 2y ago
  It is. As the article points out, the limit to transmit information even with "quantum teleportation" is still the speed of light.
andrewfromx 2y ago
So this is all about sending data more securely: Imagine a spy trying to intercept the quantum message. They'd have to measure the quantum state to read it, but measuring it automatically changes it! The intended receiver would immediately know someone tampered with the message. But it's all just at light speed. The only breakthru is we can do it on existing fiber lines even with tons of other traffic on the lines.
- Terr_ 2y ago
  > But it's all just at light speed. To put a finer point on it: Any information flow is hard-limited to the speed of our best regular communication. (E.g. Light traveling slower-than-in-vaccuum through thin glass tubes, zig-zag bouncing inside and also following the cable's meandering path over the Earth's surface.)
dlcarrier 2y ago
The headline does not match the article. The method of quantum teleportation of data through fiber optics, which it is discussing, was first demonstrated in the 90's, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_teleportation#Experimental_results_and_records https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_teleportation#Experime...) but researchers have, for the first time, demonstrated its use while also transporting conventional telecommunications traffic through the same fiber. This is the paper the article sources: https://opg.optica.org/optica/fulltext.cfm?uri=optica-11-12-1700&id=565936 https://opg.optica.org/optica/fulltext.cfm?uri=optica-11-12-... Most headlines are not written by the author, which is likely why this one is nonsensical.
jfengel 2y ago
I think they're talking about this: https://opg.optica.org/optica/fulltext.cfm?uri=optica-11-12-1700&id=565936 https://opg.optica.org/optica/fulltext.cfm?uri=optica-11-12-... "Quantum teleportation coexisting with classical communications in optical fiber" It's a thing that has been well understood for many years. This is a nice practical improvement, using existing fiber optics rather than having to lay new cables. The headline is bad and the BBC should feel bad. And the article isn't much better. Also, "quantum teleportation" was always a terrible name.

6 points by lastdong 2y ago

msie 2y ago

I thought it was physically impossible to transmit information instantaneously. Or at least you get no useful information transmitted.

krapp 2y ago
It is. As the article points out, the limit to transmit information even with "quantum teleportation" is still the speed of light.

andrewfromx 2y ago

So this is all about sending data more securely: Imagine a spy trying to intercept the quantum message. They'd have to measure the quantum state to read it, but measuring it automatically changes it! The intended receiver would immediately know someone tampered with the message. But it's all just at light speed. The only breakthru is we can do it on existing fiber lines even with tons of other traffic on the lines.

Terr_ 2y ago
> But it's all just at light speed. To put a finer point on it: Any information flow is hard-limited to the speed of our best regular communication. (E.g. Light traveling slower-than-in-vaccuum through thin glass tubes, zig-zag bouncing inside and also following the cable's meandering path over the Earth's surface.)

dlcarrier 2y ago

The headline does not match the article. The method of quantum teleportation of data through fiber optics, which it is discussing, was first demonstrated in the 90's, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_teleportation#Experimental_results_and_records https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_teleportation#Experime...) but researchers have, for the first time, demonstrated its use while also transporting conventional telecommunications traffic through the same fiber. This is the paper the article sources: https://opg.optica.org/optica/fulltext.cfm?uri=optica-11-12-1700&id=565936 https://opg.optica.org/optica/fulltext.cfm?uri=optica-11-12-... Most headlines are not written by the author, which is likely why this one is nonsensical.

jfengel 2y ago

I think they're talking about this: https://opg.optica.org/optica/fulltext.cfm?uri=optica-11-12-1700&id=565936 https://opg.optica.org/optica/fulltext.cfm?uri=optica-11-12-... "Quantum teleportation coexisting with classical communications in optical fiber" It's a thing that has been well understood for many years. This is a nice practical improvement, using existing fiber optics rather than having to lay new cables. The headline is bad and the BBC should feel bad. And the article isn't much better. Also, "quantum teleportation" was always a terrible name.