The University of British Columbia (UBC) researchers have proposed a groundbreaking solution to overcome the hurdles in quantum networking. They’ve designed a device that can efficiently convert microwave signals into optical signals and vice versa, which is crucial for transmitting information across cities or continents through fibre optic cables.

This “universal translator” for quantum computers is remarkable because it preserves the delicate entangled connections between distant particles, allowing them to remain connected despite distance. Losing this connection means losing the quantum advantage that enables tasks like creating unbreakable online security and predicting weather with improved accuracy.

The team’s breakthrough lies in tiny engineered flaws, magnetic defects intentionally embedded in silicon to control its properties. When microwave and optical signals are precisely tuned, electrons in these defects convert one signal to the other without absorbing energy, avoiding the instability that plagues other transformation methods.

This device is impressive because it can efficiently run at extremely low power – just millionths of a watt – using superconducting components alongside this specially engineered silicon. The authors have outlined a practical design for mass production, which could lead to widespread adoption in existing communication infrastructure.

While we’re not getting a quantum internet tomorrow, this discovery clears a major roadblock. UBC researchers hope that their approach will change the game by enabling reliable long-distance quantum information transmission between cities. This could pave the way for breakthroughs like unbreakable online security, GPS working indoors, and solving complex problems like designing new medicines or predicting weather with improved accuracy.

The implications of this research are vast, and it’s an exciting time to see how scientists will build upon this discovery to further advance our understanding of quantum technology.

The article “Scientists just took a big step toward the quantum internet” has been rewritten to improve clarity, structure, and style, making it accessible to a general audience. The core ideas remain the same, but the language is simpler and more engaging.

Scientists Take a Big Leap Toward the Quantum Internet with New Light Sources

A groundbreaking research collaboration between Denmark and Germany aims to revolutionize quantum technology by developing new light sources that can connect devices through optical networks. The project, called EQUAL (Erbium-based silicon quantum light sources), has received 40 million Danish crowns in funding from the Innovation Fund Denmark.

The quest for a quantum internet is not just about creating faster computers; it’s also about enabling unbreakable encryption and entirely new types of computing. However, this requires quantum light sources that don’t exist today. The EQUAL project aims to change that by integrating nanophotonic chips with unique technologies in materials, nanoelectromechanics, nanolithography, and quantum systems.

“It is a really difficult task, but we have also set a really strong team,” says Søren Stobbe, the project coordinator at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). “One of the toughest goals is to integrate quantum light sources with quantum memories. This seemed unrealistic just a few years ago, but now we see a path forward.”

The EQUAL team has made significant progress in developing new nanophotonic technology that can enhance the interaction between erbium and light. Erbium is the only viable option for creating viable quantum light sources, but it interacts too weakly with light. The project requires not only advanced nanophotonics but also quantum technology, integrated photonics with extremely low power consumption, and new nanofabrication methods – all of which hold great potential.

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) will help develop new sources of quantum light using silicon, the same material found in everyday electronics. These light sources will work at the same wavelengths used in fiber-optic communication, making them ideal for future quantum technologies like secure communication and powerful computing.

The EQUAL team has access to further technological input from partnering institutions: quantum networks from Humboldt University in Berlin, nanotechnology from Beamfox Technologies ApS, and integrated photonics from Lizard Photonics ApS. The project’s principal investigator, Dr. Yonder Berencén from the Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research at HZDR, explains that they intend to use advanced ion beam techniques to implant erbium atoms into tiny silicon structures and study how using ultra-pure silicon can improve their performance. This research will lay the foundation for building quantum devices that can be integrated into today’s technology.

The EQUAL project has just begun in May 2025 and will run for five years, aiming to make significant progress toward creating a viable quantum internet. The researchers are excited about the potential breakthroughs and the impact it could have on society.

The human visual system has long been a source of inspiration for computer vision researchers, who aim to develop machines that can see and understand the world around them with the same level of efficiency and accuracy as humans. While machine vision systems have made significant progress in recent years, they still face major challenges when it comes to processing vast amounts of visual data while consuming minimal power.

One approach to overcoming these hurdles is through neuromorphic computing, which mimics the structure and function of biological neural systems. However, two major challenges persist: achieving color recognition comparable to human vision, and eliminating the need for external power sources to minimize energy consumption.

A recent breakthrough by a research team led by Associate Professor Takashi Ikuno from Tokyo University of Science has addressed these issues with a groundbreaking solution. Their self-powered artificial synapse is capable of distinguishing colors with remarkable precision, making it particularly suitable for edge computing applications where energy efficiency is crucial.

The device integrates two different dye-sensitized solar cells that respond differently to various wavelengths of light, generating its electricity via solar energy conversion. This self-powering capability makes it an attractive solution for industries such as autonomous vehicles, healthcare, and consumer electronics, where visual recognition capabilities are essential but power consumption is limited.

The researchers demonstrated the potential of their device in a physical reservoir computing framework, recognizing different human movements recorded in red, green, and blue with an impressive 82% accuracy. This achievement has significant implications for various industries, including autonomous vehicles, which could utilize these devices to efficiently recognize traffic lights, road signs, and obstacles.

In healthcare, self-powered artificial synapses could power wearable devices that monitor vital signs like blood oxygen levels with minimal battery drain. For consumer electronics, this technology could lead to smartphones and augmented/virtual reality headsets with dramatically improved battery life while maintaining sophisticated visual recognition capabilities.

The realization of low-power machine vision systems with color discrimination capabilities close to those of the human eye is within reach, thanks to this breakthrough research. The potential applications of self-powered artificial synapses are vast, and their impact will be felt across various industries in the years to come.