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Quantum Data Link Established Between 2 Distant Chinese Cities


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Optical fibers.

A secure quantum link has been created over a distance of 511 kilometers between two Chinese cities by using a relay in the middle that doesnt have to be trusted.

Credit: KTSDESIGN/Getty Images/Science Photo Library

Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have created a secure quantum link extending 511 kilometers (almost 320 miles) between two Chinese cities.

The researchers strung a fiber-optic connection between Jinan and Qingdao, with a central receiver located between the two cities in Mazhan.

Lasers at both ends of the cable send photons toward each other. The relay in the middle does not read the data, checking only whether the two signals matched.

The researchers found the two ends could exchange a quantum key that could be used to encrypt data sent over traditional networks.

University of Sussex's Peter Kruger said, "Single photons over hundreds of kilometers is quite remarkable."

From New Scientist
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Abstracts Copyright © 2021 SmithBucklin, Washington, DC, USA


 

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