Harvard University researchers have made a significant advancement in the creation of next-generation internet technology. In a recent experiment, the team successfully established a city-wide quantum network in Boston utilizing diamond-based quantum memory nodes connected through a 22-mile optical fiber loop. These diamond chips, which contain silicon-vacancy centers—minute imperfections capable of storing quantum information—facilitated quantum entanglement over considerable distances using the existing telecommunications framework.

Unlike conventional signals, which can be amplified with boosters, quantum information cannot be duplicated or enhanced in the same manner. To address this challenge, the Harvard team employed a novel strategy whereby memory nodes “catch,” store, and retransmit quantum data without altering its entangled state. The nodes make use of two forms of qubits: electron spins for communication and nuclear spins for long-term storage. Maintained at cryogenic temperatures, these memory nodes effectively upheld entanglement as quantum information moved across the city.

This accomplishment establishes a base for an advanced quantum internet capable of providing ultra-secure communication and enhanced computing capabilities. The research, backed by the National Science Foundation and industry partners such as Amazon Web Services, demonstrates that practical, scalable quantum networks are viable today. With plans for future node additions and system expansion, Harvard’s initiative represents a crucial turning point in how information will be exchanged in the digital era.

By:
Vraj Parikh