What is Quantum Teleportation?

By Samudrapom DamReviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Updated on Oct 16 2024

Quantum teleportation is a fundamental technique in quantum information science, enabling the transfer of quantum states between distant locations without moving the physical particles themselves. By leveraging quantum entanglement, teleportation allows quantum information to be shared securely and efficiently, making it crucial for developing quantum communication systems and distributed quantum computing architectures.^1,2

Image Credit: metamorworks/Shutterstock

Introduction

Quantum teleportation involves transferring an unknown quantum state over long distances. Unlike classical communication, this process relies on quantum entanglement. The key steps in a quantum teleportation protocol include:

• Entanglement distribution: Sharing an entangled pair of particles between sender and receiver.
• Bell-state measurement: Measuring the combined state of one part of the entangled pair and the particle to be teleported.
• Classical communication and corrections: Sending the measurement result to the receiver, who then applies specific corrections to recreate the original state.

In quantum entanglement, particles become interconnected so that the state of one affects the other instantly, no matter the distance between them. This connection creates correlations that are much stronger than any classical equivalent. In quantum teleportation, this entanglement forms the necessary link for transferring quantum information.

A quantum channel is created by sharing an entangled pair of particles between two parties. These pairs of qubits can be generated using various physical systems like trapped ions, photons, or superconducting circuits. For more complex quantum states, preparing the entangled pairs and performing the required measurements becomes more challenging.^1,2

The Fundamentals of Quantum Science

Quantum Teleportation Protocol

Bell states, also known as Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) pairs, are specific entangled states of two qubits that exhibit maximum entanglement. They are fundamental for several quantum information protocols, including quantum teleportation. The ability to manipulate and create Bell states is crucial for successful teleportation.

When the sender wants to teleport a quantum state, they perform a joint measurement on their part of the entangled pair and the particle they wish to teleport. This measurement collapses the system into a specific state, which encodes the original information. The result of the measurement is then communicated to the receiver via a classical channel.

The receiver uses this information to apply a corresponding operation to their part of the entangled pair, allowing them to reconstruct the original state. The fidelity and efficiency of teleportation depend on the quality of the entangled pairs and the accuracy of the measurements and corrections. Various experimental setups have been developed to optimize these factors.²

Types of Quantum Teleportation

Quantum teleportation can be broadly categorized into:

• Standard quantum teleportation: Involves a single qubit.
• Multi-qubit teleportation: Extends teleportation to more complex states.
• Continuous variable teleportation: Uses continuous quantum variables instead of discrete qubits.^3-5

Quantum Teleportation Platforms

Quantum teleportation relies on advanced systems to transfer information without physically transmitting particles.

Photon-Based Teleportation

Photons are well-suited as quantum information carriers due to their low susceptibility to interference and ease of manipulation. Entangled photons generated in nonlinear crystals have successfully been used for teleportation over short and long distances, including distances exceeding 100 kilometers through optical fibers.²

Solid-State Systems

Platforms such as nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, superconducting qubits, and quantum dots provide promising alternatives for teleportation. Quantum dots can produce entangled photon pairs, making them suitable for quantum networks. NV centers in diamond are advantageous for their long coherence times and compatibility with current semiconductor technologies.²

Teleportation using superconducting qubits coupled via microwave resonators has also shown potential for quantum processors, making these systems relevant for future quantum computing applications.²

What to Know About Quantum Teleportation

Applications of Quantum Teleportation

Quantum teleportation is a groundbreaking technique that has found profound uses across various fields.

Quantum Computing

Quantum teleportation plays a critical role in quantum computing development by facilitating the creation of distributed quantum gates and operations. It enables quantum state transfer between various parts of a quantum processor, which is vital for developing scalable quantum computers capable of performing complex computations.

Quantum Gate Teleportation

This technique utilizes teleportation to implement quantum gates on remote qubits. It allows for the creation of entangling gates between qubits that do not directly interact, enabling the construction of large-scale quantum circuits. Recent studies have demonstrated the feasibility of gate teleportation in diverse quantum platforms, including trapped ions and superconducting qubits.

Quantum Error Correction

Quantum error correction involves maintaining the coherence of quantum states in the presence of decoherence and noise. Teleportation-based error correction schemes, such as the surface code, employ teleportation protocols and entangled states to detect and correct errors without direct quantum state measurement.

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)

QKD leverages quantum teleportation to securely distribute cryptographic keys between distant parties. Many QKD protocols, including E91 and BB84, have been successfully implemented using quantum teleportation techniques.

Quantum Communication

Quantum teleportation offers unparalleled security for communication systems by enabling secure quantum information transfer. It is essential for the development of global quantum communication networks, particularly over long distances. For example, the Micius satellite experiment demonstrated the feasibility of space-based quantum networks by achieving teleportation between ground stations and the satellite. This approach leveraged the low atmospheric photon absorption at specific wavelengths, enabling secure communication over vast distances.²

Quantum Internet: Revolutionizing Secure Communications

Recent Developments

Recent research published in Results in Physics has introduced an innovative approach to quantum teleportation, specifically targeting the transfer of multi-qubit physical states into error-correctable multi-qubit logical states. This study employs an effective quantum error correction scheme that can detect and correct one phase flip or bit flip error in the teleported logical state.

To validate this mechanism, the researchers successfully teleported an eight-qubit physical state using a four-qubit cluster state, with three-qubit logical states serving as the quantum channel. This advancement marks a significant step toward enhancing the reliability of quantum teleportation.⁴

Parallel to this development, a study in Laser and Photonics Reviews unveiled a fully connected continuous-variable quantum teleportation network architecture. This innovative design distributes a squeezed state of light for each entangled sideband mode pair across every communication link in the network. Such an approach could pave the way for more efficient and scalable quantum communication networks.⁵

Looking Ahead

As quantum teleportation continues to advance, the focus is shifting toward developing practical and scalable systems. Future research will likely prioritize enhancing the fidelity and distance of quantum teleportation, integrating these systems with existing communication infrastructure, and developing quantum repeaters to extend the range of quantum networks. 

Additionally, exploring new applications in quantum computing and sensing technologies will be crucial. These efforts underscore the transition of quantum teleportation from a theoretical concept to a practical tool, with far-reaching implications for the future of quantum information science and technology.

References and Further Reading

1. Hu, X., Guo, Y., Liu, B., Li, C., Guo, G. (2023). Progress in quantum teleportation. Nature Reviews Physics, 5(6), 339-353. DOI: 10.1038/s42254-023-00588-x, https://www.nature.com/articles/s42254-023-00588-x
2. Rayhan, A., Gross, D. (2024) Quantum Teleportation: Instantaneous Information Transfer. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.19683.36640, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381106277_Quantum_Teleportation_Instantaneous_Information_Transfer
3. Parakh, A. (2022). Quantum teleportation with one classical bit. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 1-5. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06853-w, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-06853-w
4. Kim, D., Anjum, A., Farooq, M. A., Mushtaq, A., Shamsi, Z. H. (2023). Enhanced quantum teleportation using multi-qubit logical states. Results in Physics, 50, 106565. DOI: 10.1016/j.rinp.2023.106565, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211379723003583
5. Shi, S., Wang, Y., Tian, L., Li, W., Wu, Y., Wang, Q., Zheng, Y., Peng, K. (2023). Continuous Variable Quantum Teleportation Network. Laser & Photonics Reviews, 17(2), 2200508. DOI: 10.1002/lpor.202200508, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/lpor.202200508

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.