Researchers from Northwestern University have successfully demonstrated quantum teleportation over a fiber optic cable already carrying internet traffic. The work introduces the new possibility of combining quantum communication with existing internet cables — greatly simplifying the infrastructure required for advanced sensing technologies or quantum computing applications. “This is incredibly exciting because nobody thought it was possible,” said Northwestern University professor Prem Kumar, who led the study. “Our work shows a path towards next-generation quantum and classical networks sharing a unified fiber optic infrastructure.” Only limited by the speed of light, quantum teleportation enables a new, ultra-fast, secure way to share information between distant network users, wherein direct transmission is not necessary. The process works by harnessing quantum entanglement, a technique in which two particles are linked, regardless of the distance between them. Instead of particles physically traveling to deliver information, entangled particles exchange information over great distances — without physically carrying it. “In optical communications, all signals are converted to light,” said Kumar, director of Northwestern’s Center for Photonic Communication and Computing. “While conventional signals for classical communications typically comprise millions of particles of light, quantum information uses single photons.” For the first time, researchers have demonstrated quantum teleportation over fiber optic cables already carrying internet traffic. Courtesy of Pixabay. “By performing a destructive measurement on two photons — one carrying a quantum state and one entangled with another photon — the quantum state is transferred onto the remaining photon, which can be very far away,” said Jordan Thomas, a PhD candidate in Kumar’s laboratory and the paper’s first author. “The photon itself does not have to be sent over long distances, but its state still ends up encoded onto the distant photon. Teleportation allows the exchange of information over great distances without requiring the information itself to travel that distance.” Prior to this study, many researchers were uncertain if quantum teleportation was possible in cables carrying classical communications. The entangled photons would drown among the millions of other light particles. Kumar and his team, however, found a way to help the delicate photons steer clear of the busy traffic. After conducting in-depth studies of how light scatters within fiber optic cables, the researchers found a less crowded wavelength of light to place their photons. Then, they added special filters to reduce noise from regular internet traffic. “We carefully studied how light is scattered and placed our photons at a judicial point where that scattering mechanism is minimized,” Kumar said. “We found we could perform quantum communication without interference from the classical channels that are simultaneously present.” To test the new method, Kumar and his team set up a 30 km fiber optic cable with a photon at either end. Then, they simultaneously sent quantum information and high-speed Internet traffic through it. Finally, they measured the quality of the quantum information at the receiving end while executing the teleportation protocol by making quantum measurements at the mid-point. The researchers found the quantum information was successfully transmitted — even with busy internet traffic whizzing by. “Although many groups have investigated the coexistence of quantum and classical communications in fiber, this work is the first to show quantum teleportation in this new scenario,” Thomas said. “This ability to send information without direct transmission opens the door for even more advanced quantum applications being performed without dedicated fiber.” Next, Kumar plans to extend the experiments over longer distances. He also plans to use two pairs of entangled photons — rather than one pair — to demonstrate entanglement swapping, another important milestone leading to distributed quantum applications. Finally, his team is exploring the possibility of carrying out experiments over real-world, inground optical cables rather than on spools in the lab. But, even with more work to do, Kumar is optimistic. “Quantum teleportation has the ability to provide quantum connectivity securely between geographically distant nodes,” Kumar said. “But many people have long assumed that nobody would build specialized infrastructure to send particles of light. If we choose the wavelengths properly, we won’t have to build new infrastructure. Classical communications and quantum communications can coexist.” The research was published in Optica (www.doi.org/10.1364/OPTICA.540362).