Abstract

Quantum teleportation is a way to transfer an unknown quantum state between two objects. It is performed using a quantum (entangling) channel and a classical communication channel. Teleportation is an important ingredient in distributed quantum networks, and can also serve as an elementary operation in quantum computers [1]. Here we demonstrate for the first time [2] teleportation between objects of a different nature—light and matter, which respectively represent ‘flying’ and ‘stationary’ media. A quantum state of a few-photon pulse is teleported onto a macroscopic object (an atomic ensemble containing 10¹² caesium atoms). The fidelity up to 64% higher than any classical communication can possibly achieve has been demonstrated. An important factor for the implementation of quantum networks is the teleportation distance between transmitter and receiver; this is 0.5 metres in the present experiment and should be scalable to longer distances.

© 2007 IEEE