Using techniques of graph theory, the scientists have shown that quantum contextuality can provide a quantum advantage in distributed computation and in various communication protocols without requiring entanglement.
Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram (IISER TVM) in collaboration with a team consisting of scientists from SN Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata, Anhui University, China, and Universidad de Sevilla, Spain, have worked in the field of quantum theory and quantum communication and have made a breakthrough discovery.
The researchers have shown one use for quantum contextuality – quantum communication. Quantum communication is the transmission of information using quantum systems, such as photons (light particles), instead of electrical signals used now. So far, it was thought that quantum communication is caused by a phenomenon called “quantum entanglement”, famously described by Einstein as “spooky action at a distance”. Quantum entanglement is a property that endows the quantum particles (like photons) to interact with each other regardless of the distance between them, potentially enabling instantaneous communication.
Debashis Saha, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, IISER TVM, said, “We have shown that a large class of communication tasks that cannot be achieved using classical communication can be accomplished using quantum contextuality, rather than quantum entanglement."
Using techniques of graph theory, the scientists have shown that quantum contextuality can provide a quantum advantage (the ways in which a quantum system performs better than a classical system) in distributed computation and in various communication protocols without requiring entanglement. They have, in fact, shown a two-way link between quantum contextuality and quantum advantage.
Quantum advantage does not mean that all computers will be replaced by quantum computers tomorrow, the authors caution us. They say that work such as theirs can help in developing quantum computers and communication devices in future. The authors believe that quantum contextuality can potentially enable quantum communication-based applications such as quantum teleportation, distributed quantum computation, and secure quantum secret key generation or quantum cryptography, all of which are impossible using classical communication.
Follow Shiksha.com for latest education news in detail on Exam Results, Dates, Admit Cards, & Schedules, Colleges & Universities news related to Admissions & Courses, Board exams, Scholarships, Careers, Education Events, New education policies & Regulations.
To get in touch with Shiksha news team, please write to us at news@shiksha.com
