17 June 2004

Quantum teleportation with atoms

Quantum teleportation, based on the principle of entanglement in which two particles become correlated and share unique properties, has been demonstrated several times using pairs of entangled photons, but in a probabilistic way. This involves an element of hindsight: photons, once paired, are detected and deemed to have teleported. In this issue two groups report 'deterministic' teleportation, involving atoms (trapped ⁴⁰Ca⁺ ions in one case, and ⁹Be⁺ in the other), such that the outcome is predictable. The quantum identity of one atom (not the atom itself) is destroyed by quantum measurement, and that identity is reconstructed on the paired atom. This achievement is an important step towards quantum computing and telecommunications. On the cover, the ⁴⁰Ca⁺ experiment visualized.

Deterministic quantum teleportation with atoms
M. RIEBE, H. H�FFNER, C. F. ROOS, W. H�NSEL, J. BENHELM, G. P. T. LANCASTER, T. W. K�RBER, C. BECHER, F. SCHMIDT-KALER, D. F. V. JAMES & R. BLATT
Nature 429, 734–737 (2004); doi:10.1038/nature02570
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Deterministic quantum teleportation of atomic qubits
M. D. BARRETT, J. CHIAVERINI, T. SCHAETZ, J. BRITTON, W. M. ITANO, J. D. JOST, E. KNILL, C. LANGER, D. LEIBFRIED, R. OZERI & D. J. WINELAND
Nature 429, 737–739 (2004); doi:10.1038/nature02608
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Quantum physics: Push-button teleportation
H. J. KIMBLE & S. J. VAN ENK
Two groups have succeeded in teleporting quantum states between different atoms — a spectacular advance in the quest to achieve quantum computation.
Nature 429, 712–713 (2004); doi:10.1038/429712a
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17 June 2004 table of contents