Breakthrough study unveils image teleportation in quantum networks

An international team from Wits University and ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences has made a breakthrough in quantum communication, unveiling a method for transporting patterns of light across a network without the physical transmission of the image itself.

• Information exchange between two distant parties, where information is shared without physically transporting it, is a crucial resource in future quantum networks.

A groundbreaking study by an international research team from Wits University and ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences, published in Nature Communications last month, has unveiled a revolutionary technique in the field of quantum communication. This technique enables the transportation of patterns of light, akin to image teleportation, across a network without the physical transmission of the image itself, challenging traditional notions of data transfer and representing a major advancement towards quantum networks for high-dimensional entangled states.

Quantum communication, known for its potential to enhance information security over long distances, has previously demonstrated the transmission of two-dimensional states (qubits) between satellites, surpassing classical bit-based communication capabilities. However, the new study led by Prof. Andrew Forbes of Wits University has pushed these boundaries even further. Forbes describes this development as a realization of ‘Star Trek’ technology, where information is teleported without physically traveling across the connection.

The innovation lies in the team’s ability to teleport information using just two entangled photons for high-dimensional states. Earlier attempts at quantum teleportation were limited to three-dimensional states, requiring more entangled photons for complex transmissions. The team’s successful demonstration of transporting a 15-dimensional state, using a nonlinear optical detector, is a breakthrough in the field, making higher-dimensional quantum transport both feasible and scalable.

A practical application of this technology can be seen in the banking sector, where sensitive customer information, like fingerprints, can be sent to a bank without physical transmission, significantly reducing the risk of interception. In this scheme, a bank sends a single photon (one of an entangled pair) with no information to the customer, who then overlaps it on a nonlinear detector with the information to be sent. The information then appears at the bank as if it had been teleported, making interception virtually impossible.

Despite its groundbreaking nature, this protocol is not strict teleportation, as it relies on a bright laser beam for the efficiency of the nonlinear detector. The sender knows what is to be sent, but does not need to know the details. The research opens new pathways for connecting quantum networks and highlights nonlinear quantum optics as a key resource.

Dr. Adam Valles of ICFO, a central figure in the experiment, discusses the potential implications and future directions of the research. He acknowledges the current limitations, such as preventing a cheating sender from keeping better copies of the teleported information, but remains optimistic about the possibilities this technique opens for quantum communication.

References:

¹ Sephton, B., Vallés, A., Nape, I. et al. Quantum transport of high-dimensional spatial information with a nonlinear detector. Nat Commun 14, 8243 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43949-x – OPEN ACCESS

² Quantum Leap in secure communication: Teleporting images using light – SPX – December 19, 2023

Featured image credit: The Watchers