The concept of teleportation popularised in science fiction is no longer mere fantasy. Scientists have demonstrated that teleportation can be achieved using quantum principles and technology.
Research on transferring quantum states from one particle to another particle far away, without any physical interaction between them, has been ongoing for more than 30 years. Quantum state is a mathematical concept that represents information about atoms or subatomic particles, such as the energy level of electrons or the polarisation of photons.
Experiments continued until the late 1990s when scientists discovered that quantum states could be transmitted over short distances. In 2017, quantum teleportation was successfully achieved over long distances, including to and from low Earth orbit, by utilising quantum entanglement. Quantum entanglement describes a natural phenomenon in which particles can be connected to each other across unlimited distances.
The procedure for teleporting quantum states was first presented in a paper published in 1993, followed by a series of experimental demonstrations. Entering the 2010s, scientists found ways to teleport various types of quantum states, including on superconductor circuits. Researchers also proved that quantum states could be transported between cities, as well as from Earth to space and back.
However, quantum teleportation is different from the concept of teleportation in science fiction shows such as Star Trek. Tim Strobel, a doctoral student studying quantum communication, said that "it is difficult to compare it with Star Trek" because "what is being done is teleportation of quantum states, not matter or energy." Daniel Oblak, a quantum information scientist from University of Calgary, explained that if one wanted to teleport a human, all quantum information about the atoms and particles that make up the body would need to be transferred, a scenario that is considered highly implausible. Jason Orcutt, principal research scientist at IBM Quantum, stated that "the question of whether humans can be teleported is still entirely in the realm of science fiction."
