bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Stephen Chen

Chinese and Canadian scientists say they have successfully carried out a form of teleportation across an entire city.
The two teams working independently have teleported near-identical versions of tiny particles called photons through cables across Calgary in Canada and Hefei in Anhui province.
The forms of teleported photons were destroyed in one laboratory and recreated in another more than 8km apart in the two cities through optical fibre.
Similar experiments have been carried out before, but only within the same laboratory.
A physicist not involved in either of the studies said the research was a step forward in the development of a “quantum internet”, a futuristic particle-based information system that could be much more secure than existing forms of digital data.
Quantum networks make eavesdropping almost impossible because the particles used cannot be observed without being altered.
How quantum satellite launch is helping China develop a communications system that ‘cannot be hacked’
Teleportation, the foundation for such a network, has largely been the realm of science fiction, and other scientists say the research is still a very long way from teleporting people or objects.

But in his commentary on the research in the scientific journal Nature Photonics, French physicist Frederic Grosshans said the two experiments clearly showed that teleportation across metropolitan distances was technologically feasible.
“The two papers demonstrate that the possibility of quantum [internet] networks that span a city are a realistic proposition, which is an exciting vision for the future,” Grosshans said.
Professor Zhang Qiang, one of the leaders of the Chinese team, said: “Maybe in the distant future, materials can be teleported through a fibre or even open space, too.”
Maybe in the distant future, materials can be teleported through a fibre or even open space, too
Professor Zhang Qiang
The research was carried out by scientists at the University of Science and Technology of China and the University of Calgary and their papers were published in the journal on Monday.
The research concentrates on the behaviour of particles at a subatomic, or quantum level.
Researchers have long known that a photon particle can be split in two and yet the pair are still “entangled”, which means that any change in the state of one immediately affects the other, although how this happens is still unknown.
The two papers demonstrate that the possibility of quantum [internet] networks that span a city are a realistic proposition, which is an exciting vision for the future
Frederic Grosshans, French physicist
This, in theory, means it could be possible to transmit information by manipulating entangled photons, but various factors, including fluctuating temperatures, can interfere with the process over longer distances outside the laboratory.
The researchers used sophisticated equipment to counter these and other problems, allowing the Chinese team, led by Professor Pan Jianwei and Professor Zhang, to achieve “full” quantum teleportation of photons over a optical fibre network 12.5km apart.
Quantum teleportation breakthrough earns Pan Jianwei’s team China’s top science award
The Canadian team led by Professor Wolfgang Tittel also teleported the particles over 8.2km. The teleported photons were a virtual copy of the original.

A team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the US reported last year that it had achieved quantum teleportation over a fibre optical network more than 100km in length, but the whole cable was coiled within a laboratory.
Scientists have also teleported photons through the air over 100km, but the technology can only be used at night and in remote areas because too many of the particles are generated by other sources including natural light.Using a cable shields the photons from interference and is viewed by researchers as a more practical way of harnessing the technology.
The Chinese and Canadian teams used different approaches to carry out their experiments. The Chinese team demonstrated a fuller version of the quantum network with higher reliability, but the Canadian approach was more efficient, according to Grosshans.
The Chinese method “comes at the price of a low rate of two teleported photons per hour, which would strongly limit its practical applications if it could not be improved”, he said.
The Canadian method “allows a faster teleportation rate of 17 photons per minute”, but their low accuracy during transmission “also limits its immediate practical applications”.
Physicists take a ‘quantum leap’ in teleporting photon
Zhang at the University of Science and Technology of China, said the team’s work was only a small step towards the construction of a quantum network.
Many technical hurdles, such as storage for the extremely fragile quantum data, remained and it was difficult to predict when a global quantum internet would be operational.
Grosshans said a useful quantum computer was still a few decades away and “the first ones, whether they will be built in 2030 or 2070 would be very expensive machines”.
China is at the forefront of research into quantum communications.
It is carrying out experiments on a satellite launched last month as part of efforts to develop a communications system that cannot be cracked by hackers.
The experiments involve attempting to transmit information through photons from the satellite to earth.



China tests super wireless rail convoy that could carry 3 Eiffel Towers

Chinese scientists report way to extract hypersonic weapon fuel boron from seawater

China’s lab fungus produces low-cost, meat-like protein to replace chicken farms

China trials unmanned trucks on world’s highest mine, 5,600 metres from sea level

Science

Teleportation, the next generation: Chinese and Canadian scientists closer to a quantum internet

Researchers teleport tiny photon particles across cities in breakthrough that could help future development of a faster, more secure ‘quantum internet’

Quantum teleportation

The Chinese and Canadian teams worked independently to teleport near-identical versions of tiny particles called photons through cables across Calgary in Canada and Hefei in Anhui province. Photo: Nature Photonics

How quantum satellite launch is helping China develop a communications system that ‘cannot be hacked’

Scientists believe that using technology harnessing quantum physics is the key to beating electronic snoopers

Scientists believe information sent through photons cannot be intercepted or analysed by hackers. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Quantum teleportation breakthrough earns Pan Jianwei’s team China’s top science award

No Caption Available.

Prof. Pan Jianwei (middle) and his team from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, Anhui province, picked up the nation’s top award for natural scientists due to their breakthrough in quantum teleportation technology. Credit: University of Science and Technology of China

Physicists take a 'quantum leap' in teleporting photon

Crystals which contain photonic information after the teleportation. Photo: University of Geneva

News

China

Politics

Researchers teleport tiny photon particles across cities in breakthrough that could help future development of a faster, more secure ‘quantum internet’
