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Theoretical research into quantum information engines that surpass the classical Carnot limit has exploded these past 10 years, but experiments so far have almost exclusively been the realm of the optics community. To help advance the field, and to develop solutions that might help our energy-dependent global society navigate the planetary crises, it’s high time that physicists working on atom-level electronics join the game.
A recently published patent (https://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-ipsum/Case/PublicationNumber/GB2590064) has claimed the development of a novel quantum key distribution protocol purporting to achieve long-range quantum security without trusted nodes and without use of quantum repeaters. Here we present a straightforward analysis of this claim, and reach the conclusion that it is largely unfounded.
