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Theorists Make Quantum Communications Breakthrough

KentuckyFC writes "One of the cornerstones of modern physics is Claude Shannon's theory of communication, which he published in 1948. If you've ever made a phone call, watched TV, or used a computer, you've got Shannon to thank for describing how information can be moved from one place in the universe to another using an idea called the channel capacity. But nobody has been able to develop a quantum version of this theory. So physicists have no idea how much quantum information can be sent from one point to another. Now two American physicists have made an important breakthrough by proving that two quantum channels with zero capacity can carry information when used together. That's interesting because it indicates that physicists may have been barking up the wrong tree with this problem: it implies that the quantum capacity of a channel does not uniquely specify its ability for transmitting quantum information (abstract). And that could be the idea that breaks the logjam in this area."

20 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. So 0+0=1! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now two American physicists have made an important breakthrough by proving that two quantum channels with zero capacity can carry information when used together.

    So who wants to join my class-action lawsuit against math teachers?

    1. Re:So 0+0=1! by z0idberg · · Score: 5, Funny

      I do!

      That makes three of us!

  2. Encryption is anti-american by Arthur+B. · · Score: 5, Funny

    When you use quantum encryption, the theorists win !

    --
    \u262D = \u5350
  3. Two channels with zero capacity can carry info by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It was called ISDN.

  4. Two Channels with Zero Capacity? by Ralph+Spoilsport · · Score: 4, Funny
    W y t a s u d l k a r a i e !

    I c u d h l w t q a t m r p o r p y

    h h t o n s i e g e t d a

    t o l e p i h u n u c y t g a h .

    RS

    --
    Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
    1. Re:Two Channels with Zero Capacity? by Mr2001 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I demand you take that back. My grandmother was a saint!

      --
      Visual IRC: Fast. Powerful. Free.
  5. Do NOT look at this message!!! by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oops, too late. You're entangled!

  6. Re:For a second... by eggfoolr · · Score: 3, Funny

    When it comes to quantum mechanics, a theorist is not far removed from a terrorist!

  7. Re:similarly, in computer science, by Bryan+Ischo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does the data really have to be copyrighted for that to work?

  8. This is new? by Quarters · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have DirecTV. That gives me something like six hundred channels which have zero intellectual capacity but yet still manage to carry data.

  9. Quantum Telepnone Calls by EEPROMS · · Score: 4, Funny

    Harry "Hello Jim Im ringing you back regarding the message you left on my voice mail." Jim "What message ? I hevent left one yet" Harry "Aw crap I did it again, I will never get my head around our new quantum telephone system"

    1. Re:Quantum Telepnone Calls by quinks · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Hello Bob, this is Alice", Bob "Yeah, what is it", Alice "You left a message on my answering machine, but it's all garbled", Bob "Damn that Eve"

  10. Re:Channel theory link broken by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    You fools! You've gone and changed the article by clicking the link.

  11. Re:quantum mechanics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    PHYSICIST!

    you outed yourself!

  12. Re:Channel theory link broken by SEWilco · · Score: 4, Funny

    Observers have indeed changed the state of the target to dead.

  13. Re:similarly, in computer science, by ObjetDart · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...and if I combine your post with a random pad of 1s and 0s, will I get something that has anything to do with TFA?

    --
    I read Usenet for the articles.
  14. Re:Zero plus Zero equals One for large values of Z by SpaceLifeForm · · Score: 5, Funny
    It's true.

    You can extract immense amounts of information from the combination of Fox News (channel 0 with no signal) and the White House Press Secretary (channel 1 with no signal).

    Anything in common is a lie, and that is useful information.

    --
    You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.
  15. Re:I think you've got it by neomunk · · Score: 3, Funny

    Like putting too much air in a balloon! :-D

  16. Re:Channel theory link broken by vyruss000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Links in Slashdot are simultaneously dead and alive! Clicking on them decides which ;)

  17. Re:quantum mechanics by Pollardito · · Score: 5, Funny

    don't worry, scientists also discovered that two people who don't understand quantum mechanics can engage in a meaningful conversation on the subject