Scientists Achieve Breakthrough in Merging Quantum and Traditional Internet
Hannover, Germany – Researchers at Leibniz University Hannover have achieved a significant breakthrough in the development ofa quantum internet, paving the way for a future where the two internet worlds seamlessly coexist. The team has successfully demonstrated the transmission of entangled photons through optical fibers,a crucial step towards integrating quantum communication with existing infrastructure.
The research, led by Professor Dr. Michael Kues, Director of the Institute of Photonics atLeibniz University Hannover, and his team, focuses on the ability to transmit entangled photons – particles that share a special connection, even when separated – through optical fibers. This capability is essential for the development of a quantum internet, which promises to revolutionize communication security and data processing.
To realize a quantum internet, we need to transmit entangled photons through fiber optic networks, explained Professor Kues. At the same time, we want to continue using these fibers for traditional data transmission. Our research represents a crucial step towards combining the traditional internet with the quantum internet.
The researchers’ innovation lies in a novel system for transmitting entangled photons through optical fibers. They have developed a method to change the color of laser pulses using high-speed electrical signals, matching them to the color of entangled photons. Thisallows them to send both laser pulses and entangled photons of the same color through the fiber, separating them after transmission.
We can change the color of the laser pulses with high-speed electrical signals, matching them to the color of the entangled photons, explained Philip Rübeling, a PhD student at the Institute ofPhotonics who is researching the quantum internet. This allows us to combine the laser pulses and the entangled photons of the same color in the fiber and then separate them again.
This breakthrough overcomes a major hurdle in integrating quantum communication with existing infrastructure. Previously, the presence of entangled photons blocked data channels in the fiber,making them unusable for traditional data transmission. This new method allows entangled photons to be transmitted alongside traditional data, ensuring both types of information can flow simultaneously.
Entangled photons blocked the data channels in the fiber, making them unusable for traditional data transmission, said Jan Heine, a PhD student in Kues’ research group. With our concept, which we have demonstrated for the first time in an experiment, the photons can now be sent in the same color channel as the laser. This means that all color channels remain available for traditional data transmission.
The researchers’ findings have significant implications for the future of communication technology. A quantum internet, powered by entangled photons, promises unprecedented levels of security. Its ability to resist eavesdropping, even by future quantum computers, makes it ideal for protecting sensitive data and critical infrastructure.
Our experiment shows how a hybrid network can be successfully realized, said Professor Kues. This is a significant step towards a futurewhere quantum and traditional internet technologies seamlessly coexist, offering unparalleled security and efficiency.
The research team is now working to further optimize their system and explore its potential applications. Their findings are a testament to the ongoing progress in quantum communication technology, bringing us closer to a future where the benefits of a quantum internet are readily available.
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