Chip to chip communication may drive next-level internet security

For the first time, information has been ‘teleported’ between two computer chips. Researchers have claimed that this is a leap that could progress to a more secure ‘quantum internet.’

Experts from the University of Bristol and the Technical University of Denmark have been working to develop a process known as quantum entanglement and managed to ‘instantly send the data’ between two chips.

The information was communication with no physical or electrical contact as quantum entanglement allows the particles to transmit the data. This has been hailed a breakthrough in the world of quantum computing, as altering one particle in the chip will automatically change the other one. The team says this research could potentially develop a quantum internet that could ‘ultimately protect the world’s information from malicious attacks’.

To achieve the successful result, the team generated pairs of entangled photons – encoding quantum information in a way that ensured low levels of interference and high levels of accuracy. Approximately 4 qubits – the quantum equivalent of classical computing bits – were linked together.

The Bristol team produced a specially designed and programmable chip with circuits that generate light particles. These particles then use ‘quantum entanglement’ to instantly exchange information over a distance. These particles are then able to utilise quantum entanglement to communicate between different chips and uphold instant communication.

The team saw a 91% success rate when attempting to get the light particles to communicate with each other. Co-author of the study, Dan Llewellyn said ‘we were able to demonstrate a high quality entanglement link across two chips in the lab’. This research is said to be as important as that of quantum computers, the internet and other technologies that rely on ‘quantum information’. The concept of the word quantum is defined as minimum amount of any physical entity involved in an interaction.

HOW DOES QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT WORK?

Quantum entanglement involves two particles becoming intertwined.  They become so interconnected that they can continue to ‘communicate’ over long distances. Changing the properties of one particle will prompt the other one to instantly change. There is no limit of the distance between the particles – in essence, ‘teleporting’ the shared data. In the transfer of quantum information, data travels instantaneously, possibly moving faster than the speed of light. Einstein labelled it ‘spooky action at a distance’

Scientists are finding out more and more about how quantum entanglement works, but for now, it’s difficult to control. It is not something that can be installed inside a laptop and bulky, expensive technical equipment is required in order to ensure it functions correctly. In a statement, the team said that, ‘establishing an entangled communication link between two chips in the lab however has proven to be highly challenging.’

The hope is that such advances in the lab, might one day lead to advances in computing that everyone is able to take advantage of: basically, super-powerful processing power and a next-level internet with built-in hacking protection.

The research was published in the journal Nature Physics.