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Scientists Teleport Data on Tiny Scale

Send information between atoms a meter apart

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 24, 2009 4:17 PM CST
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(Newser) – It’s not quite worthy of the Starship Enterprise, but Maryland scientists have managed to teleport data on an atomic scale, LiveScience reports. The researchers transmitted information between atoms a meter apart without the data actually crossing that space—a development that could help create speedy quantum computers and highly secure communication, Science News notes.

Other experiments have passed quantum information, like photon polarization and particle spin, between photons or two atoms on the back of a third. But none have teleported data over long distances. The Maryland experiment "could form the basis of a new type of quantum internet that could outperform any conventional type of classical network for certain tasks," one scientist said.

The teleportation setup at University of Maryland.
The teleportation setup at University of Maryland.   (Joint Quantum Institute)
The Enterprise soars through space in Star Trek.
The Enterprise soars through space in "Star Trek."   (MovieWeb)
In this image released by Paramount Pictures, Zachary Quinto stars as Spock in a scene from, Star Trek.
In this image released by Paramount Pictures, Zachary Quinto stars as Spock in a scene from, "Star Trek."   (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures, Industrial Light & Magic)
The teleportation setup at University of Maryland.
The teleportation setup at University of Maryland.   (Joint Quantum Institute)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
atris999
Jan 25, 2009 2:10 AM CST
The singularity draws closer...!
riffran
Jan 24, 2009 7:41 PM CST
quantum particle entanglement, is a very new science, and the potential is crazy......imagine quantum computers, that can perform over a petabyte of calculations instantaneously-vs-the petaflop computers the have now......a quantum computer would do all the many calculation at once, whereas a standard computer...regardless of how fast does them in a linear progression.....Look out everybody here comes ...HAL......"I'm sorry Dave, but I'm afraid I cant do that"...lol...riff

The journal article
Science

The report from Maryland (PDF)
Joint Quantum Institute

 
University of Maryland • science • physics • quantum mechanics • atom • scientific breakthroughs

 

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