Tenerife Observatory
Scientists have recently published the results of an experiment which took place in May and claim they have set a “teleportation” distance record, sending quantum information about a particle of light – a photon, farther than ever before between the islands of La Palma and Tenerife.
The photon does not actually move, researchers began with the particle to be teleported and two entangled particles.
If two particles are entangled they are connected and even if separated over vast distances, an action performed on one will be reflected on the other.
The experiment began with three photons on the island of La Palma,then one of the entangled photons was beamed the 89 miles to the Observatory at Tenerife.
Because the photon was one of an entangled pair, when a measurement of the quantum states of the two particles remaining on La Palma was made it then affected the particle sent to Tenerife, allowing the first particle to all intents and purposes to be re-created in a new location without physically travelling the distance, say researchers.
Lost? Well the Trekies amongst you will tell you that the fictitious Star Trek transporters have been re-constituting lost humans from the “pattern buffer” for years, but “Beam me up, Scotty,” is not quite yet a reality, although Scientists say that practical uses for the new technology are not far off.
The next step is likely to be “Quantum” computers where information sent between computers will be instantaneous and totally secure.
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