‘30 km teleported’: Teleportation achieved over live internet traffic for first time

Produced by: Manoj Kumar

Quantum Leap

Quantum states of light were teleported over 30 kilometers of fiber optic cable amidst live internet traffic—a milestone once deemed impossible.

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Key Achievement

The feat, led by Prem Kumar of Northwestern University, opens pathways to integrated quantum-classical networks using existing infrastructure. (Published in Optica)

Teleport Explained

Quantum teleportation transfers quantum states by destroying them at one point and recreating them at another—revolutionizing data transfer possibilities.

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Fragile State

Quantum states, prone to decoherence, require extreme protection to survive internet traffic, likened to “fairy floss in a spring shower.”

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Photon Shield

Researchers minimized scattering by placing photons at wavelengths least affected by interference, preserving their delicate quantum properties.

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First Real Test

This marks the first successful quantum teleportation alongside actual internet traffic, advancing quantum internet integration.

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Unified Future

Prem Kumar highlighted how quantum and classical data streams can coexist, eliminating the need for separate infrastructure.

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Practical Impact

Teleportation could enhance encryption, sensing, and quantum computing networks securely across geographically distant nodes.

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Quantum Revolution

Each experiment brings the quantum internet closer, offering unprecedented tools for encryption, communication, and computation.

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