Europe is pushing for the creation of a new, more secure network infrastructure based on quantum physics, which would help prevent hackers from stealing information.
Europe, China, and the US are investing in the development of quantum computing and the quantum internet. Photo: metamorworks
In May 2023, Dr. Benjamin Lanyon at the University of Innsbruck in Austria made a significant breakthrough in creating a new type of internet. He transmitted information along a 50-kilometer fiber optic cable, using the principles of quantum physics. Information in quantum physics differs from the binary data unit stored and processed by computers, the core of today's World Wide Web. The world of quantum physics focuses on the properties and interactions of molecules, atoms, and even smaller particles such as electrons and photons. Quantum bits, or qubits, offer the potential for more precise information transmission, helping to prevent information theft over networks.
Lanyon says his research will make quantum internet feasible within cities, with the goal of then expanding intercity reach. His breakthrough is part of a European Union (EU) research project aimed at moving closer to a quantum internet. Called the Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA), the project brings together numerous research institutions and companies across Europe. The QIA has received $25.5 million in EU funding over 3.5 years, until the end of March 2026, according to Phys.org .
"The quantum internet will not replace the conventional internet, but rather combine with it," shared Stephanie Wehner, professor of quantum information at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and coordinator of the QIA.
A key concept in quantum physics is quantum entanglement. If two particles are entangled, no matter how far apart they are in space, they will possess similar properties. For example, both will have the same "spin," which indicates the direction of the intrinsic angular momentum of a fundamental particle. The spin state of a particle is not clear until it is observed. Before that, they exist in various states called superpositions. But once observed, the state of both particles is clearly defined.
This is very useful in secure communication. Those who secretly intercept quantum data transmissions will leave a clear trail by creating changes in the state of the observed particles. "We can use the properties of quantum entanglement to achieve a secure communication measure even if the attacker has a quantum computer," Wehner explains.
The secure communication capabilities achieved by quantum internet could open up a much wider range of applications than traditional internet networks. For example, in medicine, quantum entanglement allows for clock synchronization and improved remote surgery. For astronomy, telescopes conducting distant observations could "use quantum internet to create entanglement between sensors, providing much better quality images of the sky," Wehner said.
The current challenge is scaling up the quantum internet to utilize multiple particles over long distances. Lanyon et al. also demonstrated communication not only between individual particles but also between beams of particles (in this case, photons), boosting entanglement rates between quantum nodes. The ultimate goal is to extend quantum nodes over larger ranges, possibly 500 km, creating a kind of quantum internet that can connect distant cities, similar to traditional internet networks.
Beyond Europe, China and the US have also made significant strides in quantum computing and the quantum internet in recent years. Europe is going further by developing integrated space and terrestrial infrastructure for secure communication, a core component of the quantum internet.
An Khang (According to Phys.org )
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