Qubits can be encoded, for example, in the polarization states of a photon or in the spin states of electrons and atomic nuclei. Quantum information, however, uses quantum bits, or qubits, which can be in a superposition of both 0 and 1 at the same time. Classical information deals in bits that have values of either 0 or 1. “The main feature of a quantum network is that you are sending quantum information instead of classical information,” says Delft University’s Ronald Hanson. government enacted the National Quantum Initiative Act, with a budget to lavishly fund a number of research hubs dedicated to quantum technologies, including quantum computers and networks. Europe is competing with similar national efforts in China-which in 2016 launched Micius, a quantum-communications satellite-as well as in the U.S. Lanyon’s team is part of Europe’s Quantum Internet Alliance, coordinated by Stephanie Wehner of the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, which is tasked with creating a quantum network. Such a network may be built in the next several years, according to Ben Lanyon of the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information in Innsbruck, Austria. The first stage, many say, would be a quantum network using standard optical fiber to connect at least three small quantum devices about 50 to 100 kilometers apart. They want to build quantum networks sporting full-blown quantumness, where information is created, stored and moved around in ways that mirror the bizarre behavior of the quantum world-think of the metaphorical cats that can be both dead and alive or particles that can exert “spooky action at a distance.” Freed from many limitations of “classical” networks, these systems could provide a level of privacy, security and computational clout that is impossible to achieve with today’s Internet.Īlthough a fully realized quantum network is still a far-off vision, breakthroughs in transmitting, storing and manipulating quantum information have convinced some physicists that a simple proof of principle is imminent.įrom defects in diamonds and crystals that help photons change color to drones that serve as spooky network nodes, researchers are using a smorgasbord of exotic materials and techniques in this quantum quest. But if quantum physicists have their way, such weaknesses will soon go the way of the dodo. From insecure communication links to inadequately guarded data in the cloud, vulnerabilities are everywhere. Today’s Internet is a playground for hackers.
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