Tiny lamp rings make large-scale quantum leap

Scientists have created the largest quantum entangled network ever built on a single chip that has the potential to unlock new possibilities for ultra-safe communications and next-generation computing. A breakthrough achieved by researchers at Peking University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences has connected 60 different light modes in devices smaller than nails.

In the quantum world, entanglement allows particles to share their properties regardless of distance – a phenomenon Einstein once called “the weird action of distance.” The study created these connections not between individual particles, but between the entire light pattern, which scientists call “cluster states.”

“Our work demonstrates the largest cluster state with unprecedented levels of original extrusion, providing a compact and scalable platform from photonic chips for computing and communication tasks with quantum advantages,” the research team said in a paper published in Light in Light: Science & Applications.

At the heart of this achievement is optical microcombus—a tiny circular path that captures light and interacts between different frequencies. Unlike previous methods that rely on probabilistic methods with limited scalability, the researchers used multiple synchronous lasers to deterministically create an interconnection network of 60 entangled patterns arranged in linear and grid-like patterns.

The system reaches a squeezing level of up to 3 decibels, a technical measure that demonstrates high quality of entanglement. This represents the best performance ever shown on photonic chips, ten times larger than previous chip quantum networks.

What makes this development particularly important is its actual form. Traditional quantum entanglement experiments often require an entire laboratory setup with an optical table and accurate alignment of many components. This new approach limits everything to a single chip that has the potential to be integrated into future devices.

The researchers believe that their work provides not only technological advancements, but also a fundamental platform for exploring quantum physics. As quantum technology continues to be developed, these microcomputers-based systems may become the basis for quantum computers and networks that process information in ways that traditional electronic devices cannot be impossible.

With further improvements in manufacturing technology and integration with other photonic components, these “quantum microgroups” can ultimately enable practical quantum networks, providing unprecedented security, computing the computing power of today’s supercomputers, and advanced sensors for scientific and medical applications.

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