New quantum data protocol takes big steps towards a 'Quantum Internet'

Everyday efforts are being made towards the creation of 'quantum internet,' and now a new network protocol has been developed that bring us even closer to its fruition.

UAB researchers have managed to face one of the many problems that are present when designing a quantum internet connection - optimizing automated information treatment protocols to work with quantum data sets. The researchers have created an optimal procedure that has the ability to be able to identify quantum data sets. This is done through a quantum network protocol that can identify common underlying probability distributions and organize them into recognizable patterns.

An example of a classical computer doing this is a simple street microphone test that has multiple sounds occurring at the same time. The computer recognizes patterns and can differentiate the sounds of a conversation, traffic, and cars. What the researchers at UAB were able to do is compare the performance of classic computers and their protocols, versus quantum protocols. The findings were that quantum protocols clearly outperform classical protocols; this was mainly present in large data sets.