The word ‘quantum’ pops up frequently, mostly in science fiction books and films. The entertainment industry leverages quantum technology as a throwaway explanation for any unexplainable technological device or occurrence.
However, quantum technology is, in fact, real. Quantum computers exist, and scientists continue to develop this technology. One primary area of quantum science focus looms just on the horizon: the quantum internet.
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How Can the Quantum Internet Be Used?
The quantum internet is essentially a hypothetical system designed to facilitate an entirely different way of communicating data and information online.
Currently, communicating online occurs through traditional computing methods. Traditional methods use a language consisting of 1’s or 0’s, each called a bit. Multiple bits transmitted together form usable information.
Information transmitted via quantum computing, however, transcends the limitations of the traditional bit system. Instead, quantum computing transmits in the form of a qubit. Like bits, qubits occur as 1’s and 0’s but can also be both or neither. Qubits exist in a superposition of states.
Schrodinger’s Cat offers the best illustration of the superposition of states phenomena. In this illustration, a box contains a cat and poison. It is impossible to tell if the cat is alive or dead until the box opens. Instead, the cat in the closed box exists in a state that is one, the other, neither, or both – a superposition of states. This position, however, is delicate and breaks as soon as the box opens to reveal the cat’s disposition.
A qubit is like the unobserved cat. Qubits exist in a superposition of states until read by a quantum computer.
What is the quantum internet? In this article, we explore the quantum realm of connectivity and its construction. We also explore near-future applications of this technology.
The quantum internet consists of a network of devices built for quantum computing. These networks include quantum computers and devices such as sensors and nodes.
Important Applications for Quantum Connectivity
The quantum internet remains a hypothetical idea, and scientists have yet to define its applications. However, scientists predict the existence of such a network would provide massive benefits in several situations.
Cybersecurity tops the list of beneficial connectivity applications. The superposition of qubits makes them almost impossible to interpret without a key shared by two quantum computers. Thus, quantum key distribution allows two computers to share information securely because intercepting computers could not decipher the transmission without the necessary quantum key. As more and more companies realize the value of cybersecurity, quantum keys and security will be a huge selling point for this emerging quantum technology.
Quantum internet also plays an integral role in building a scientific sensor network. Quantum sensors offer greater sensitivity than traditional sensor technologies. When connected over the quantum internet, these sensors maintain a shared state of superposition. This shared state means that the separate sensors could act and respond as one in a manner that is impossible with today’s internet.
Finally, the quantum internet could increase the capabilities of quantum computers. With quantum-powered connectivity, connected computers work in tandem as if they were a single machine. Such a connection facilitates shared computing power, adding up to far more power than any singular machine could afford.
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Who Benefits from Quantum Internet?
Large-scale companies and governments stand to benefit most from using the quantum internet.
The advantages derived from security alone offer invaluable assets to these entities. For example, securing election results over a quantum network allows governments to conduct elections more securely. Meanwhile, many large businesses would benefit from the ability to send information without having it fall into the wrong hands.
The implications for research are also vast. The quantum internet provides researchers with new methods for collecting information about complex topics like black holes.
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How Will Quantum Technology Impact Individuals?
While large companies, researchers, and governments benefit from the quantum internet, average internet users also stand to benefit.
While users may notice little difference between the quantum and traditional internet from a UX standpoint, individuals stand to benefit from the enhanced security measures that quantum connectivity provides.
Quantum computing also promises to drastically improve connectivity and transmission speeds. Recreational users anticipate an enhanced gaming experience with improved connectivity and processing speeds. Those who rely on network connectivity professionally, especially those who employ network connectivity and computing tools to solve problems, will appreciate the dramatic expansion in problem-solving capacity afforded by quantum computing.
Many of the benefits and applications that promise to benefit individuals remain in the early development or conception phase. Just as technologies like printable circuitry, which first found purpose in heavy industry before reshaping the lives of individuals, the full extent of the benefits available through quantum internet computing technologies will likely trickle down over time.
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How Far Away Is the Quantum Internet?
The quantum internet is still in the very early stages. The technology that is required to run it is still being developed, and some elements of it are still theoretical.
However, there has been progress. Quantum computers exist and are becoming more and more powerful. Google AI and NASA recently created a 54-qubit machine, which represented a significant advance in the world of quantum computing. This was designed as a move toward creating quantum computers that are advanced enough to do things that traditional computers cannot.
Meanwhile, the networks to connect these computers are being developed and, in some cases, constructed. The University of Chicago created a 124-mile quantum loop that extends across the city of Chicago. This currently connects communication devices and security protocols but is planned to be the centerpiece of an entire quantum computing network.
Exploring the Quantum Internet
The quantum internet is poised to start a new era of communication. This technology offers the potential for vastly improved information transmission clarity, even if we don’t fully understand how. Though this developing technology remains in the infancy stage of development today, the quantum internet remains a topic worth watching.
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