The Quantum Internet Just Passed Its Toughest Real-World Test Yet – Over 38 Miles of Ordinary Cable
This could actually work.
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Researchers at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology have achieved a significant milestone in quantum internet development by successfully transmitting entangled photons across 62 kilometers of existing fiber-optic cables. The breakthrough demonstrates that quantum networks can function reliably in challenging real-world conditions, rather than only in controlled laboratory environments.
The experiment was particularly demanding because the cables were strung above ground between poles connecting NIST and the University of Maryland, exposing them to environmental interference from wind, temperature fluctuations, traffic vibrations, and other disturbances. These conditions severely affect quantum data by distorting the polarization of photons, which carry the entanglement information. The research team overcame this challenge by using laser light as a reference signal, allowing them to calculate and correct for environmental interference while maintaining the integrity of the quantum information.
Although the transmission rate of 200 to 1,500 entangled photons per second will require improvement for practical quantum internet applications, the results validate the feasibility of deploying quantum networks in real environments. The stabilization technique used only 7.2 percent of operational time, leaving 92.8 percent available for transmitting quantum data. Scientists believe quantum networks could eventually enhance internet security and enable Earth-based telescopes to function as a single giant instrument.
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Originally reported by Sciencealert →
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