March 13, 2011 07:03 am EDT

Northwestern University researchers route photon qubit, make quantum internet possible

Big brains across the globe continue to unlock the secrets of the qubit and harness it for myriad uses -- quantum hard drives, quantum computers, and even quantum refrigerators. The internet may be next in line to get quantum-ized now that researchers from Northwestern University found a way to route a photon qubit through an optical cable without losing any of its physical characteristics. A newly developed optical switch does the deed, which allows fiber-optic cables to share multiple users' quantum info at once -- making superfast all-optical quantum communication networks possible -- and gets us closer to having our tweets and status updates whizzing to and fro at the speed of light.

Northwestern University researchers route photon qubit, make quantum internet possible originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 03:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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