Engineers Sent A Quantum Internet Transmission Over Standard IP

In a groundbreaking experiment, engineers at the University of Pennsylvania successfully demonstrated the possibility of transmitting quantum data over commercial fiber-optic networks using the same Internet Protocol (IP) that powers today's internet. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the quest for a functional "quantum internet," and one that could eventually change how we process and transmit information. The experiment was conducted on Verizon's campus network, highlighting the feasibility of combining quantum and classical data on the same infrastructure.

The key to this success is a tiny chip, dubbed the "Q-chip," that the team developed to coordinate both quantum and classical data streams. By pairing classical fiber-optic light signals with quantum particles, the Q-chip allows for seamless integration of quantum data without destroying the delicate quantum state. This is important because in traditional quantum communication systems, measuring or interacting with quantum signals often causes them to lose their ...