Experiments generate quantum entanglement over optical fibres across three real cities, marking progress towards networks that could have revolutionary applications.

  • Toes♀
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 month ago

    Can that be scaled? c is still better than rotting cables.

    • VindictiveJudge@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      1 month ago

      The limit is c because you have to use cables, radio, or other traditional methods to send the key. The data in the entangled pair would also have to be set at the time the two devices are constructed, so that’s not super useful. It might be useful for single use authentication, but that’s about it.

      Don’t think of entanglement as being like one object in two spots. Think of it like identical twins. One twin getting a hair cut does nothing to the other twin’s hair. Similarly, altering a property of one entangled particle does nothing to the other and actually means they are no longer entangled or identical.

      • Toes♀
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 month ago

        Oh that’s really helpful thanks for the clarification

        • VindictiveJudge@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 month ago

          No problem. I was pretty disappointed when I learned all the sci-fi writers were getting it wrong. Though, to be fair, it really should be called something else.

          • Toes♀
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            3
            ·
            1 month ago

            Yeah that’s exactly what I was comparing it too.