Researchers achieved the feat of teleporting the quantum state of a photon to a crystal over the course of 25 kilometers (about 15 miles) of optical fiber, beating the previous record of six kilometers (about three miles).
The previous quantum teleportation record was achieved 10 years ago by the same Université de Genève team that completed the latest experiment. Passing light into matter through teleportation shows the state of a particle is really what's important and not its composition.
The experiment demonstrates that the quantum state of a photon can be maintained as it is transported into a crystal without the two making direct contact. The crystal can be thought of as a "memory bank" for storing information photon information, which is transported via the teleportation method.
The findings suggest new potential opportunities in the realm of quantum dimensions.
The researchers are working to test quantum entanglement, which involves two photons linked at their most basic level by joint states. One is propelled along the optical fiber while the other is sent to the crystal in what can be thought of as a "game of billiards." Eventually a third photon hits the first which causes both of them to be obliterated. Despite the event the information contained in the third photon is not destroyed, and rather moves into the crystal containing the second entangled photon.
"The quantum state of the two elements of light, these two entangled photons which are like two Siamese twins, is a channel that empowers the teleportation from light into matter," said Félix Bussières, the lead author of this publication.
The findings suggest that in quantum physics "the state takes precedence over the 'vehicle' - in other words an item's quantum properties transcend classical physical properties," Université de Genève reported.
The findings were published in the most recent edition of the journal Nature Photonics.
