India makes quantum breakthrough: This is the simplest explanation you will find

India Today

8 hours ago

India made a quantum breakthrough as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-Delhi) conducted a quantum secure communication using quantum entanglement over a distance of more than one km.Didn't understand? Let me try again.Imagine you and your best friend each have a magic walkie-talkie. These walkie-talkies are super-special — no matter how far apart you are (even if one of you is on the Moon!), they can instantly send messages without anyone else hearing.advertisement
That's kind of what quantum communication is — a way to send information using the tiniest particles in the universe, like light particles (called photons), in a super secure way!
Tese efforts align with India's broader objectives to advance quantum technologies for national development. (Photo: Getty)
Now here's the really cool part: quantum entanglement. Think of it like a pair of magical twins — no matter how far apart they are, if one twin sneezes, the other twin instantly knows it! When two tiny particles are 'entangled,' anything that happens to one affects the other, right away. It's like they're connected by an invisible string.advertisementScientists are using this to create the most secure communication ever — like spy-level secret messages!That's the promise of entanglement-based free-space quantum secure communication, a cutting-edge technology recently demonstrated in India by DRDO and IIT Delhi.WHAT IS QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT?Quantum entanglement is a strange phenomenon where two tiny particles, like photons (particles of light), become linked in such a way that whatever happens to one instantly affects the other — even if they are far apart. It's as if you had two magic coins: flip one in Delhi, and the other in Mumbai changes in the same way at the exact same moment.HOW DOES THIS HELP COMMUNICATION?In traditional secure messaging, you use secret codes or keys. But these can sometimes be stolen or cracked. With quantum entanglement, you can create a secret key that is truly secure. Here's how it works in simple terms:A pair of entangled photons is created.One photon is sent to the sender, and the other to the receiver, through open air (free space).Both parties measure their photons. Because the photons are entangled, their results are always linked. If anyone tries to intercept or measure the photons, the link is disturbed. The sender and receiver will notice this right away and know the communication isn't secure.advertisementWhy 'free-space'?'Free-space' means the photons travel through open air, not through cables or fibres. This is useful for communicating over long distances, even between buildings or from the ground to satellites.WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?This technology is much more secure than traditional methods. Even if someone has advanced hacking tools, they can't secretly intercept the message without being detected.The recent demonstration in India sent secure information over a distance of more than one kilometre, paving the way for future quantum networks and ultra-secure internet connections.Quantum communication provides fundamentally unbreakable encryption, making it a dual-use technology with applications in securing data in strategic sectors such as defence, finance, and telecommunications, as well as in protecting national security-related communications.In short, entanglement-based free-space quantum secure communication uses the weirdness of quantum physics to keep secrets safe, making sure that only the intended people can read the message, and no one else.Must Watch