Chinese researchers from institutions including the Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences, Tsinghua University, and North China University of Technology have developed a system for quantum direct communication.
This advancement uses a one-way protocol to reduce loss and improve performance compared to previous bidirectional methods. In standard optical fiber tests, the system achieves a transmission distance of 104.8 km with a rate of 2.38 kilobit per second over 168 hours. The system addresses challenges such as high noise and loss in quantum channels, demonstrating the potential for secure communication applications in fields like government affairs and finance.
Development of Quantum Direct Communication System
The development builds on previous work by Long Guilu’s team, which initially proposed quantum direct communication. However, earlier systems faced challenges due to bidirectional protocols, leading to high system loss and limited performance. The researchers addressed these issues by shifting to a one-way transmission approach, significantly reducing energy loss and enhancing communication efficiency.
Key technologies developed include high-noise and high-loss channel coding, enabling stable operation in challenging environments. This innovation allows for secure communication even in the presence of significant interference and potential eavesdropping risks.
The system’s performance is remarkable. It achieved a transmission distance of 104.8 km with a rate of 2.38 kilobits per second over 168 hours. This represents a 4,760-fold improvement in communication rate compared to previous systems, demonstrating the effectiveness of the one-way approach.
The potential applications of this technology are vast, particularly in sectors requiring high information security such as government affairs and finance. By leveraging quantum direct communication, these fields can ensure secure data transmission with minimal risk of interception or tampering.
Challenges in Achieving Secure and Reliable Communication
The core challenge in achieving secure and reliable quantum direct communication lies in the extreme sensitivity of quantum states to environmental interference. Quantum channels are characterized by high noise, significant signal loss, and the constant risk of eavesdropping, making it challenging to maintain stable and secure communication over long distances.
Previous approaches relied on bidirectional protocols, where both parties transmitted quantum states back and forth, leading to substantial system losses and severely limiting performance improvements. This method increased complexity and made it challenging to achieve practical rates for real-world applications.
The breakthrough achieved by the Chinese researchers lies in their shift to a one-way transmission approach, which halves the distance over which quantum states need to be transmitted. This reduction in distance significantly lowers energy loss and enhances communication efficiency, addressing one of the most critical limitations of earlier systems.
To overcome the challenges posed by high-noise and high-loss environments, the researchers developed advanced channel coding techniques tailored to these conditions. These innovations enable the system to operate reliably despite significant interference, ensuring secure communication despite potential eavesdropping attempts.
The success of this approach is evident in the system’s performance metrics, which demonstrate a substantial improvement over previous iterations. With a transmission distance of 104.8 km and a rate of 2.38 kilobits per second sustained for 168 hours, the researchers have demonstrated that quantum direct communication can now achieve practical rates suitable for real-world applications.
This advancement represents a significant step forward in overcoming the technical barriers to secure and reliable quantum communication, paving the way for its adoption in critical sectors such as government affairs and finance, where information security is paramount.
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