In an increasingly digital world, cybersecurity threats have become a pressing concern for businesses and governments alike. Quantum entanglement, a phenomenon in quantum mechanics where two or more particles remain connected in such a way that the state of one particle is dependent on the state of the other, even when separated by large distances, is being studied as a possible solution for making the internet unhackable. Researchers at Heriot-Watt’s Institute of Photonic and Quantum Sciences have demonstrated the potential applications of quantum entanglement in the real world.
What is Quantum Entanglement?
Quantum entanglement is a quantum mechanical phenomenon in which two or more particles are correlated in such a way that the state of each particle cannot be described independently of the state of the others, even when separated by a large distance.
In quantum mechanics, particles can exist in a superposition of states, meaning that they can simultaneously be in multiple states until measured. When two particles are entangled, their wave functions become correlated such that the state of one particle is dependent on the state of the other. This correlation is called entanglement, and it means that if the state of one particle is measured, the state of the other particle becomes instantaneously determined, even if the particles are separated by a large distance.
This phenomenon can be understood by considering the mathematical description of the entangled system, where the wave function of the composite system cannot be separated into independent wave functions for each particle. This means that a measurement of one particle will instantly collapse the wave function of both particles and determine their states, regardless of the distance between them. This instant communication between entangled particles, which occurs faster than the speed of light, is referred to as non-local behavior.
Entanglement has been confirmed through various experiments, such as the famous EPR (Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen) paradox, and is a crucial aspect of quantum technologies, including quantum cryptography, quantum teleportation, and quantum computing. The concept of entanglement continues to be an active area of research in the field of quantum mechanics, with ongoing efforts to understand its implications and applications.
The Challenge of Maintaining Quantum Entanglement:
Quantum entanglement can be a fragile phenomenon, and maintaining it requires careful control over the environment and interactions between entangled particles. Decoherence, environmental interactions, and distance are major factors that can lead to a loss of entanglement. Decoherence occurs due to interactions between the system and its environment, leading to a loss of coherence and quantum properties. Environmental interactions cause fluctuations in the state of entangled particles and can result in a loss of correlation. The distance between entangled particles also affects the correlation, with entanglement becoming weaker with increasing distance.
These types of problems can severely undermine the security of quantum networks. Even the best optical fibers in the world will have a certain amount of loss per kilometer, making this form of quantum communication a big hurdle. There is also the technical challenges in implementing quantum entanglement in real-world systems and the need for further research and development.
The Solution:
Potential solutions to the challenge of maintaining quantum entanglement include:
- Isolation: Isolating the system from its environment is one way to reduce the effects of decoherence and environmental interactions, thereby preserving entanglement.
- Error correction: Quantum error correction techniques can be used to mitigate the effects of environmental interactions and other sources of noise on entangled particles.
- Entanglement distillation: This process involves distilling highly entangled states from multiple weakly entangled states, thereby enhancing the entanglement.
- Dynamic control: Dynamic control techniques can be used to actively manipulate and maintain entanglement in real-time, despite the presence of environmental interactions and decoherence.
- Quantum communication networks: Quantum communication networks can be used to distribute entanglement over long distances, mitigating the effects of distance on entanglement.
A team of physicists, led by Professor Mehul Malik, an experimental physicist and Professor of Physics at Heriot-Watt’s School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, have improved the robustness of entanglement by using photons entangled in multiple dimensions (qudits) in the Beyond Binary Quantum Information Lab, compared to the standard two-dimensional quantum units (qubits). This ‘high-dimensional’ entanglement uses the spatial structure of light to entangle photons in a 53-dimensional space made up of ‘pixels’ of light.
“This is the first time it’s been shown that quantum entanglement can tolerate both noise and loss – and still survive in a strong form known as quantum steering,” said Professor Malik.
The results of the research are published in Physical Review X.
“The efficient and trusted flow of information lies at the heart of modern society today,” Professor Malik said.
“In the future, quantum networks will provide a way to have ultra-secure, high-capacity communication. To build a quantum internet, we need to be able to send quantum entanglement across real-world distances. And the only way you can do that is by tolerating noise and loss.”
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Professor Malik is one of only four academics in the UK to be recognized through the Royal Academy program for developing emerging technologies with high potential for economic and social benefits. The program is funded by the UK Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy and aims to identify global research visionaries and provide them with long-term support. The program is funded by the UK Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy and aims to identify global research visionaries and provide them with long-term support.
Quantum Entanglement and Cybersecurity:
Quantum entanglement has the potential to greatly enhance the security of data transmissions by providing an unparalleled level of encryption. With the current rise of sophisticated cyber threats, such as distributed denial of service attacks and ransomware, communication networks require strong protection to ensure the integrity of sensitive data.
By harnessing the power of entanglement, communication networks can be better protected from a variety of threats, including hacking, interception, and tampering. The use of quantum entanglement can be used to create an unbreakable encryption system, where data is transmitted securely between two or more users. It can be used to detect any unauthorized access attempts, and generate an alert that allows security teams to respond quickly and effectively.
Quantum entanglement makes use of the physical properties of photons to generate secure cryptographic keys. This means that the data is protected even if the device itself is in criminal hands. The process of generating keys involves manipulating entangled photons in such a way that the generated keys are impossible to guess or intercept. The keys, once generated, are used to encrypt and decrypt data. This makes quantum entanglement the most secure form of communication available, as the data remains protected even if the device is compromised.
These applications of quantum entanglement are still in their infancy, but the possibilities are exciting and could be a game-changer for keeping communication networks safe and secure.
Other Potential Applications of Quantum Entanglement:
Quantum entanglement could be used to increase the accuracy and efficiency of navigation systems, as well as drastically improve the speed and security of communication networks. This could be especially beneficial for industries such as telecommunications, aerospace, and defense. Quantum entanglement provides us with an unprecedented level of precision and control, opening up the possibility of creating new and powerful applications in a variety of industries. The potential application of quantum entanglement in navigation systems, data storage, and communication networks could revolutionize the way these industries operate. For example, using quantum entanglement to store data would increase data security and reliability, as well as expand the capabilities of data processing. Similarly, quantum communication networks could greatly improve the speed and security of communications, enabling faster and more secure data transfer. With the continued development of quantum technology, we have the potential to revolutionize the way many industries operate.
Physicists discover completely new type of quantum entanglement
In a recent breakthrough, a team of physicists at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) has discovered a completely new type of quantum entanglement. The new entanglement was observed in particle collider experiments and allowed scientists to peer inside atomic nuclei in more detail than ever before.
Usually, observations of quantum entanglement are made between pairs of photons or electrons that are identical in nature. But for the first time, the BNL team has detected pairs of dissimilar particles undergoing quantum entanglement. The discovery was made in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven Lab, which probes forms of matter that existed in the early universe by accelerating and smashing together ions of gold. But the team found that even when the ions didn’t collide, there’s much to learn from near misses. The accelerated gold ions are surrounded by little clouds of photons, and when two ions pass close by each other, the photons from one can capture an image of the internal structure of the other, in more detail than ever before.
Potential for future advancements in quantum technology
The future of quantum technology is incredibly exciting. It has the potential to revolutionize how we communicate and compute, with possibilities such as secure communication networks, faster computers, and enhanced artificial intelligence. Quantum computing could provide a speed of computation which far surpasses current computing power. This could enable new technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems to reach new levels of sophistication. Quantum communication networks could be practically unbreakable, providing a new way for secure data transmission. Additionally, quantum technology could enable us to manipulate and control the properties of matter on the atomic and subatomic scale, providing powerful new tools for research and development. While these possibilities are still in the early stages of development, the potential of quantum technology is tremendous.
The future of quantum technology will rely heavily on our ability to exploit this fascinating phenomenon. With continued research, we may unlock the full potential of quantum entanglement and unlock the possibilities of a new generation of communication and computing technologies.
