A new research has found a way to transmit confidential data securely across vast distances. The study published in the Nature Communications aims to flawlessly secure data exchange in all industries.

An engineering team from the University of Toronto have developed the said innovation using quantum cryptography. The technology enabled the authors to engineer the first all-photonic quantum repeaters, which primarily ensure that information, such as diagnostic test results and bank account details, are relayed to the correct recipient efficiently.

Quantum mechanics are highly exquisite and enable quantum cryptology to create a possible breakthrough in the science of communication. These protocols utilise the quantum states of photons, which makes jailbreaking almost close to impossible. However, photons can get lost in long distances hence limiting the scope of the research. It is said that in distances greater than 50 kilometres, approximately 90 percent of photons vanish.

The team of researchers focused on this limitation to boost their study. They developed what they call “quantum repeaters,” which are said to enhance the strength of photons and subsequently prevent its massive loss. This new development serves as miniature quantum sources that sustain the perplexed photons and relay their signals further into the system. These quantum repeaters use an all-photonic technology and does not involve other complex quantum specifications to transfer photons in long distances.

The research was made possible through the collaboration between Professor Hoi-Kwong Lo (ECE) of The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and the Department of Physics at the University of Toronto and Dr. Koji Azuma and Dr. Kiyoshi Tamaki of the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation in Japan. "There's a lot of interest in the community around designing a quantum Internet that will be more information-rich and more powerful, but these quantum states can also be fragile," Lo said. "Our motivation was to design a means for communicating securely and reliably over long distances."

The team takes pride in the high level of quantum communication that their all-photonic repeaters possess. Furthermore, the invention uses principled optical components and can function well at room temperature. Ultimately, the proposed repeaters are said to use cluster states and their high adaptability to losses.

All-photonic repeaters can actually be used to link a number of quantum computers -- a fact that is yet to be widely realised worldwide. "Imagine in the future we have various quantum computers around the world, run by different users," says Professor Lo. "We would want to convey information between them, but current modes of communication are not safe against attacks or losses."

Quantum teleportation is another aspect of the study, which the quantum technology may expect to face in the future. Lo said that mere transmittal of polarisation across vast distances is boring and that they prefer to do something fancier. Although this additional study is on its way, only experimental demonstrations have been started and so teleportation may have to wait.

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