Posted on 07/01/2025 11:08:24 AM PDT by Red Badger
In a groundbreaking achievement, researchers at Oxford University have successfully demonstrated quantum teleportation between quantum computers, a feat that was previously confined to theoretical discussions and early-stage experiments. The team, led by physicist Dougal Main, managed to create a functioning logic gate between two quantum processors located about six feet apart. This represents a significant advancement in quantum computing, opening new possibilities for quantum networks and the realization of scalable quantum systems. Their work is featured in a study published in Nature, and it marks a pivotal moment in the race to create powerful, distributed quantum computers.
Quantum Teleportation: A New Approach to Quantum Computing
Quantum teleportation is a process where the state of a qubit—an essential element of quantum computing—is transferred from one qubit to another, without physically moving the particle itself. This unique phenomenon relies on quantum entanglement, which allows particles to become correlated in ways that defy classical physics. Until now, quantum teleportation experiments were mainly focused on transferring quantum states between physically separated systems. However, the Oxford team has taken a step forward by using teleportation not just for transferring states, but for creating interactions between distant quantum systems.
“Previous demonstrations of quantum teleportation have focused on transferring quantum states between physically separated systems,” Dougal Main explains. “In our study, we use quantum teleportation to create interactions between these distant systems.” This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for quantum computing architectures that involve multiple quantum chips working in tandem over distances.
The success of this experiment means that researchers can now interconnect small quantum modules, distributing the workload across different processors while maintaining quantum coherence through teleportation. This approach could drastically reduce the complexity of scaling quantum computers, making it easier to maintain stable and reliable systems.
Oxford Team’s Experiment: A Step Towards Distributed Quantum Computing
The experiment conducted by the Oxford team involved entangling two ytterbium ions, which served as the “network” qubits, and two additional qubits dedicated to performing computational tasks. These qubits were kept separate on different quantum chips, which were linked together using quantum teleportation. The teleportation allowed the system to act as if the qubits were part of the same processor, even though they were physically separated by six feet. This setup demonstrated that quantum gates could be executed between these distant qubits with high fidelity, showcasing the potential for a new method of quantum computation.
The results of this experiment were impressive, with an 86% fidelity in replicating the qubit’s spin state on the other side. The researchers also ran Grover’s search algorithm, which is commonly used to test the performance of quantum systems. While the algorithm’s success rate was a respectable 71%, the experiment showed that this performance could be significantly improved by addressing imperfections in the system rather than the teleportation method itself.
Flexibility and Scalability: The Key to Quantum Computing’s Future
One of the standout features of the Oxford experiment is its focus on flexibility and scalability in quantum computing. The team’s new approach suggests that rather than relying on a single, massive quantum processor, quantum computing could move toward a modular, distributed system. Each module could perform computations independently, with quantum teleportation seamlessly linking them together to work as one coherent system. This distributed approach could allow for easier upgrades, repairs, or the addition of new hardware without interrupting the overall system.
“By interconnecting the modules using photonic links, our system gains valuable flexibility, allowing modules to be upgraded or swapped out without disrupting the entire architecture,” says Main. This flexibility is crucial for the long-term development of quantum computing, as it helps prevent the system from becoming overly complex and fragile when scaled. The ability to swap out or upgrade individual components without affecting the entire system is a significant step toward building a practical, functional quantum computer.
The modularity demonstrated in this experiment could pave the way for future quantum data centers, where quantum processors work in parallel across a network, much like traditional data centers today. This distributed architecture would also allow for easier integration of various types of quantum processors, which may have different strengths suited for specific tasks.
Beam me UP!
A quantum of Ping!...................
They will experiment sending rhesus monkeys first.
Then democrats, next Canadians before trying people.
Nope - the same BSOD everywhere and always.
So, does this mean air-gapping is loosing it’s cache’?
I don’t think this qualifies as “teleportation”. It is moving a “state” but not the thing itself. This is largely beyond me, though.
Call Scotty!
Arthur C. Clarke’s “Three Laws”:
“1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
Nothing important was harmed during testing then ;-)
Quantum level events, natural or invoked by human engineered events, are just quantum level events, with no imperial scientific evidence they are translatable/analogous to events that could happen at the human molecular level. No, the science is not mature enough for being able to say “beam me up Scottie”; that is likely eons away.
“Beam me up Scottie” would require the scientific ability to break down real time molecular biological life into quantum bits that collectively and accurately reflects that biological life at the quantum level, without error or deviation possible. A trick that will require prevention of quantum level events with quantum bits that naturally do no always hold a given state.
Then that quantum data stream would have to be held in and moved in an energy stream containing that unbroken quantum data, with a third process that can exactly transcribe the quantum data back to its original configuration in the biological life it was composed from.
The means for those processes are not within ANY current or near human scientific knowledge and ability.
1) How verifiable is this?
2) How much grant money does this get just for claiming it happened?
Same. I don’t get the ‘teleportation’ vs. just having two quantum-entangled particles that have been separated, where a change in state of one can be seen in the other.
I’d love to know how far apart these ‘entangled particles’ can be for this to work. Is the reliability higher if closer? ...beyond me, I just assume distance matters - if not, it opens up a new world of possibilities.
I have no problem with a lot of quantum level research, as long term it will possibly help us understand matter and energy better than we do, and very long term make possible devices that use quantum level events for microscopically and massively faster communication and storage of communicated INFORMATION that begins as human created information and not as biological life. Our far and away descendants in some far off human generations MIGHT be able to take quantum level knowledge beyond that. We will never see it.
Nonsense!
Teleportation requires the physical disassembly of a physical object at one location and reassembly at another location...
Quantum tunneling of a state from one cubit to another is long-distance quantum tunneling, a very exciting experimental outcome...
I can’t quite get my head around all this quantum computer stuff, but I’ve bought stocks (actually options) in several fledgling quantum computer companies, just in case there really is something to it.
I also got an ETF that focuses on quantum computing companies - it’s QTUM in case anybody is interested.
I did this several months ago and so far they’ve done pretty good!
Make sure no ion storms are present and compensate the transporter if any happen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=221bApOP8dE
“Scientists Achieve Teleportation Between Quantum Computers for the First Time Ever”
how long before they can do a pizza and a six-pack?
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