New research on quantum communication via fibre

Researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Huazhang University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China have published a paper in which they present a step forward towards realising a quantum network. The research shows that multiple quantum patterns of twisted light can be transmitted across a conventional fibre link that normally supports only one pattern. As explained by Business Insider, the scientists ‘manipulated properties of two light particles, altering the “pattern” of the one and the “polarisation” of the other, effectively “twisting” it. This tricked the light into travelling down the fibre, which normally would not have travelled down.’ One of the main conclusions of the research is that existing infrastructures could be used to transport multiple twisted qubits (instead of having to develop custom fibre networks).