Tiny chip tames quantum entanglement ⚡ экспресс
A fully chip-integrated source of polarization-entangled photons with electrical pumping and without post-selection has been demonstrated. The device is built by hybrid integration of a DFB pump laser and a thin-film lithium niobate chip containing periodically poled waveguides, a beam splitter, and a combiner with polarization rotation. When current is applied, the chip generates entangled pairs with a bandwidth of 73 nm and a record rate of 4.5×10¹⁰ pairs/s/mW. The fidelity of the Bell states exceeds 96% across all frequency-correlated modes. The compact source is suitable for high-speed quantum key distribution with wavelength-division multiplexing, satellite quantum communication, and entanglement-based quantum metrology.
Toss two coins at once, and they’ll always land heads and tails. But quantum particles share a stronger bond: entangled photons remain one whole, even when separated by vast distances. Measuring one particle instantly determines the state of the other—Albert Einstein called this “spooky action at a distance.” Until now, generating such pairs required bulky labs. But scientists have shrunk the entire process onto a tiny lithium niobate crystal, whose optical properties shift under electric voltage.
Verification through light measurement and color analysis confirmed an entanglement quality of 96%—a stunning result for such a compact source. With this chip, we can realistically transmit secret codes through glass fibers, mount quantum transmitters on satellites, and build sensors of unprecedented sensitivity. In a second, the chip produces more entangled pairs than stars in the Milky Way, yet draws less power than a nightlight bulb.
🎯 If you measure the oscillation direction of one photon in a pair, the other instantly takes the opposite—without any signal being sent.
🎬 Science fiction dreamed of instant communication across space. Quantum entanglement seems like the key, but one strict rule remains: no meaningful information can travel faster than light.