A group of scientists from Osaka University, Japan, announced a discovery that opens doors to a universe that for generations was thought to be the domain of science fiction: the identification of the “W state”, a special form of connection between subatomic particles that could be the first real step towards quantum teleportation.
For decades, physicists around the world have tried to understand whether this quantum state, theoretically predicted but never observed, actually exists. Now, the mystery may have finally been solved, according to the newspaper Corriere della Sera.
The “W state” is a type of quantum entanglementa phenomenon in which two or more particles are so closely linked that what happens to one instantly affects the others, even if they are at great distances. It is considered one of the strangest and most fascinating ideas in modern physics.
Japanese scientists found this phenomenon in a metallic alloy made of cerium, rhodium and tin. Using pulses of light and analyzing how the material reflected them, they were able to observe unusual behavior in the electrons, something that could only be explained by the presence of the W state.
“It was one of those moments when we realized we were seeing something that had never been seen before,” explained Professor Takao Watanabe, who led the study.
Teleportation of data, not people
Although the teleportation of people remains just fiction, the information teleportation quantum is a very real goal. If we can control states like W, we can transfer data instantly, securely and without loss of information, something that would revolutionize the internet, computing and even space communications, recalls Corriere della Sera.
Furthermore, this discovery brings us closer to more powerful and affordable quantum computerswhich work without depending on extreme temperatures or rare materials. “This experiment shows that the quantum future is closer than we imagined“, said Watanabe. “We increasingly understand the invisible rules that govern the universe.”