Scientist claim they achieved a massive breakthrough in teleportation by beaming data between quantum computers. Researchers at the University of Oxford successfully teleported logical gates - the basic components of a computer algorithm - between two quantum processors separated by more than six feet. Using particles of light or photons , the scientists were able to form a shared quantum link between the two separate devices. This allowed two processors to work remotely, sharing the same algorithm to complete their computing tasks.
The breakthrough may solve the 'scalability problem' that has plagued the construction of usable quantum computers. Currently, however, a single computer capable of processing millions of qubits would need to be gigantic in size - making them impossible for most people to have.
Qubits or quantum bits replace the traditional bits of a standard computer. The new breakthrough changes all that, allowing scientists to move data between a series of smaller devices - instead of building one enormous machine. The team explains that any quantum device powerful enough to be a game-changing innovation in computer science would need to be able to process millions of qubits. While traditional bits store and transfer data in the form of zeros and ones, qubits utilize quantum physics to exist in both states at the same time.
This is why quantum devices could one day revolutionize the computer industry, as they can dramatically increase a computer's processing speed. This isn't the first time scientists have successfully achieved quantum teleportation.
Previous international teams have demonstrated how teleportation could transfer data from one location to another without moving qubits. In late , scientists were even able to teleport an image using light - without physically sending the image itself.
