Scientists say they have successfully used a quantum computer to “Teleport” messages between two simulated black holes.
Quantum computing uses elements of quantum physics to perform operations too complex for traditional computers. Quantum physics is the study of matter and energy at the level of atoms, or smaller.
Researchers recently announced that they created two small, simulated black holes in a quantum computer and sent an informational message between them.
The team said the experiment created a simulated “wormhole”. A wormhole is a hypothetical structure of space-time imagined as a passage that connects separate points in space and time.
A wormhole is considered a bridge between two distant regions of the universe. Scientists describe them as Einstein-Rosen bridges. The two physicists who described them were Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen. Wormholes correspond to Einstein’s theory of general relativity, which focuses on gravity, one of the fundamental forces of the universe.
The researchers recently reported the results of their experiment in a study published in the publication Nature.
Maria Spiropulu is a professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology. She helped lead the study. She described what the team created as a “wormhole baby”.
Spiropulu said in a statement: “We have found a quantum system that exhibitions key properties of a gravitational wormhole is still enough small to implement on today’s quantum hardware.
She added that even though the experiment was a success, scientists are still far from being able to send people or other living beings through such a wormhole.
“Experimentally, for me, I’ll tell you, it’s very, very far,” Spiropulu told reporters. “People come up to me and they’re like, ‘Can you put your dog in the wormhole?
“So, no,” she added, “It’s a huge jump.”
Joseph Lykken is a physicist at Fermilab, a US government physics laboratory. He was a co-author of the study. He explained that “there is a difference between something that is possible in principle and possible in reality.”
But Lykken added: “You have to start somewhere. And I think it’s just exciting that we’re able to get our hands on it.”
The researchers observed the simulated wormhole on a quantum device at Google, owned by Alphabet.
The researchers noted that no real wormholes were created. They said that a real wormhole would have resulted in “a rupture of space and time. However, they said a simulated wormhole appeared to have been created, based on quantum information teleported using the Google computer.
“These ideas have been around for a long time and they are very powerful ideas,” Lykken said. “But ultimately, we’re in experimental science, and we’ve been struggling for a very long time to find a way to explore these ideas in the lab,” he added.
“And that’s what’s really exciting about it.”
I am Brian Lynn.
Reuters, MIT, Caltech and Nature reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English.
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words in this story
Teleport – v. traveling by an imaginary fast mode of transportation using special technology or special powers
simulate – v. do or do something that behaves or looks like something real but is not
hypothetical – adj. the idea that something has been suggested but does not yet really exist or has not been proven to be true
exposure – v. to show a feeling, quality or ability
enough – adv. effectively
implement – v. to make a law, a system, a plan, etc.
jump – nm a sudden increase or improvement
in principle – phr. as a general idea or plan
rupture – v. break or tear something
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