October 4, 2006

Getting closer...

Once again, if you think you understand Quantum Mechanics, you really do not understand Quantum Mechanics. From CNN\Science and Space:
Scientists teleport two different objects
Beaming people in Star Trek fashion is still in the realms of science fiction but physicists in Denmark have teleported information from light to matter bringing quantum communication and computing closer to reality.

Until now scientists have teleported similar objects such as light or single atoms over short distances from one spot to another in a split second.

But Professor Eugene Polzik and his team at the Niels Bohr Institute at Copenhagen University in Denmark have made a breakthrough by using both light and matter.

"It is one step further because for the first time it involves teleportation between light and matter, two different objects. One is the carrier of information and the other one is the storage medium," Polzik explained in an interview on Wednesday.

The experiment involved for the first time a macroscopic atomic object containing thousands of billions of atoms. They also teleported the information a distance of half a meter but believe it can be extended further."Teleportation between two single atoms had been done two years ago by two teams but this was done at a distance of a fraction of a millimeter," Polzik, of the Danish National Research Foundation Center for Quantum Optics, explained.

"Our method allows teleportation to be taken over longer distances because it involves light as the carrier of entanglement," he added.

Quantum entanglement involves entwining two or more particles without physical contact.

Although teleportation is associated with the science-fiction series Star Trek, no one is likely to be beamed anywhere soon.
Things are conserved as the light going one way carries the information of the matter going the other so no actual data is being exchanged but still, we are getting closer. Something like this, down the road ten years or so, could use pre-loaded "smart" light to add its information to matter as it is being teleported so you could theoretically create tissues or materials of any kind. Sort of like Charles Townes' LASER back in the 60's, just bumped up a notch or two. Posted by DaveH at October 4, 2006 10:17 PM
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