Scientists Achieve Milestone: Merging Quantum and Traditional Internet Through Fiber Optics
Hannover, Germany – Researchers at Leibniz University Hannover have achieved a groundbreaking breakthrough inthe development of quantum internet technology, paving the way for a seamless integration of quantum and traditional internet networks. Their innovative approach involves transmitting entangled photons through fiber optic cables, potentially revolutionizing communication security and efficiently utilizing existing infrastructure.
The research team, led by Professor Dr. Michael Kues, Director of the Institute of Photonics at Leibniz University Hannover, developed a novel system that allows for the transmission of entangled photons through fiber optic cables. This breakthrough opens up possibilities for the next generation of telecommunications technology – the quantum internet – which promises unbreakable encryption methods thateven future quantum computers would be unable to crack, ensuring the security of critical infrastructure.
To realize a quantum internet, we need to transmit entangled photons through fiber optic networks, explained Professor Kues. At the same time, wewant to continue using fiber optics for conventional data transmission. Our research is a significant step towards combining the traditional internet with the quantum internet.
The team’s experimental setup involves manipulating laser pulses with high-speed electrical signals to match their color to that of entangled photons. This allows them to send both the laser pulses andentangled photons of the same color through the fiber optic cable, subsequently separating them at the receiving end.
We can change the color of the laser pulses with high-speed electrical signals so that they match the color of the entangled photons, explained Philip Rübeling, a PhD student at the Institute of Photonics researchingquantum internet. This allows us to combine laser pulses and entangled photons of the same color in the fiber optic cable and then separate them again.
Crucially, the researchers demonstrated that the entanglement between the photons remains intact even when they are sent together with the laser pulses. This discovery holds immense potential for merging the traditionaland quantum internet.
Previously, it was impossible to use both color channels simultaneously in a single fiber optic cable. The entangled photons blocked the data channels in the fiber optic cable, making them unusable for traditional data transmission, explained Jan Heine, a PhD student in Kues’ research group.
However, the team’s groundbreaking approach allows photons to be transmitted in the same color channel as the laser. This means that all color channels remain available for traditional data transmission.
Our experiment shows how the practical implementation of a hybrid network can be successful, concluded Professor Kues. This is a significant step towards a future where quantumand traditional internet seamlessly coexist, offering unprecedented levels of security and efficiency.
This research marks a significant milestone in the development of quantum internet technology. It paves the way for a future where secure and efficient communication is possible through a hybrid network that combines the best of both worlds. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionizevarious industries, including finance, healthcare, and defense, by enabling secure and reliable data transmission.
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