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Quantum Teleportation Sends Information 143 Kilometers

Posted by timothy on from the like-a-coal-mine-in-the-canaries dept.

SchrodingerZ writes "Scientists from around the world have collaborated to achieve quantum teleportation over 143 kilometers in free space. Quantum information was sent between the Canary Islands of La Palma and Tenerife. Quantum teleportation is not how it is made out in Star Trek, though. Instead of sending an object (in this case a photon) from one location to another; the information of its quantum state is sent, making a photon on the other end look identical to the original. 'Teleportation across 143 kilometres is a crucial milestone in this research, since that is roughly the minimum distance between the ground and orbiting satellites.' It is the hope of the research team that this experiment will lead to commercial use of quantum teleportation to interact with satellites and ground stations. This will increase the efficiency of satellite communication and help with the expansion of quantum internet usage. The full paper on the experiment can be found [note: abstract only, full article paywalled] in the journal Nature."

6 of 333 comments (clear)

  1. Put Another Way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So, it's not teleportation. Thanks.

  2. Re:If I recall..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    No. No it wouldn't. Quantum entanglement does not allow for faster than light communication. Common myth.

    -- MyLongNickName

  3. Re:Why the Canaries of all places? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's to provide early warning in the event of a quantum accident - you know something went wrong when the Canaries are both alive and dead.

  4. Re:If I recall..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    But it has been mathematically proven that quantum teleportation does not allow faster than light communication. So unless you are not willing to believe mathematical proof, you should believe the previous poster's comment

  5. Re:If I recall..... by wiggles · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've been watching this NOVA series on quantum mechanics - it's been an excellent primer on this stuff for me. It's hosted by Brian Greene, a prof at Columbia who wrote a book about it for a lay audience. I think it would be very approachable for anybody with an interest in science, but without a scientific background.

  6. Re:If I recall..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In the book the The Muppets, they show that frogs can talk and that pigs sometimes become infatuated with them.