Imagine a world where information can be sent securely through quantum states, immune to hackers and breaches. This dream may soon become a reality, thanks to the groundbreaking work of Harvard physicists.
Harvard physicists have successfully demonstrated the world’s longest fiber distance between two quantum memory nodes, paving the way for a quantum internet. In a recent publication in Nature, Mikhail Lukin, Marko Lončar, and Hongkun Park, alongside researchers from Amazon Web Services, showcased the practicality of creating a quantum internet using existing Boston-area telecommunication fiber.
This demonstration involved entangling two quantum memory nodes separated by a 22-mile loop through Cambridge, Somerville, Watertown, and Boston. These nodes, located in Harvard’s Laboratory for Integrated Science and Engineering, serve as quantum computers that can store, process, and move information securely using individual particles of light.
Each node consists of a tiny quantum computer made from diamond with a defect called a silicon-vacancy center. These nodes can store and process quantum information in the form of qubits, allowing for complex network operations and secure information storage.
Utilizing silicon-vacancy centers as quantum memory devices has been a multi-year research program at Harvard, solving the challenge of signal loss in quantum communication. By entangling photons with the silicon-vacancy centers, information can be securely transmitted between nodes without the need for traditional signal boosters.
The researchers have been leasing optical fiber in Boston to conduct their experiments, showcasing the feasibility of creating a real-world quantum network in a busy urban environment. This achievement marks a significant step towards practical networking between quantum computers.
As the researchers continue to expand their network and experiment with new protocols, the possibility of a fully functional quantum internet becomes increasingly tangible. The future of secure, quantum communication is closer than we think, thanks to the pioneering work of Harvard physicists.