The quantum internet – with Kian van der Enden

The script begins with a historical journey back to 1969, highlighting Leonard Kleinrock's pioneering work at UCLA on sending the first message over ARPANET, the precursor to the internet. The narrative explains the revolutionary idea of enabling computers to communicate with each other, which was a significant departure from the isolated computational capabilities of the time. It also humorously recounts the first message sent from UCLA to the Stanford Research Institute, which crashed the system but symbolized the birth of a new era in communication. The speaker emphasizes the rapid growth of this network, expanding within eight years to span across the United States and even connect to London via satellite, showcasing the impressive speed of development and the foundational infrastructure that made this possible.

This paragraph discusses the evolution of communication from the early days of ARPANET to the modern internet, emphasizing the role of fiber optic cables as the backbone of global communication. The script then transitions into the challenges faced in computational power and data processing, particularly in the realms of drug discovery and optimization problems. It points out the limitations of current high-performance computing (HPC) and data centers, using caffeine as an example to illustrate the complexity of molecular interactions that are beyond current computational capabilities, even when combining the power of all computers worldwide.

The speaker introduces the concept of quantum computing as a potential solution to the computational challenges mentioned earlier. They explain the shift from binary computation to quantum bits, which operate on the principles of quantum mechanics, allowing for the manipulation of nature at the atomic level. The script delves into the development of quantum chips and the use of quantum entanglement, a phenomenon that Einstein famously questioned, to create a new form of communication and computation. The speaker also addresses the potential risks and challenges of quantum computing, such as the impact on encryption and the difficulty of connecting quantum computers.

This section explores the implications of quantum computing for encryption, noting that while quantum computers pose a threat to existing encryption methods, they also offer a path to more secure communication through quantum key distribution. The speaker explains the concept of entanglement and its use in creating secure keys that are immune to hacking by classical or quantum computers. They also discuss the experimental validation of entanglement, referencing the Nobel Prize awarded for work in this area, and the philosophical implications of quantum mechanics as a fundamental aspect of nature.

The script presents a vision for a Quantum Internet, a network that connects quantum computers through entanglement, allowing for the teleportation of quantum information. It discusses the challenges of building such a network, including the need for new infrastructure and the technical hurdles of maintaining quantum states over long distances. The speaker outlines the concept of quantum repeaters and the potential for a quantum cloud, where secure quantum computation could be performed remotely. The paragraph concludes with a discussion of the potential interconnected system of quantum computers and the steps needed to realize this vision.

The speaker shares insights from their lab experiences, detailing the practical challenges and developments in building the Quantum Internet. They describe the process of taking quantum networking technology out of the lab and into real-world applications, highlighting the need for remote accessibility and automation. The script discusses the transition from prototype systems to scalable hardware platforms capable of orchestrating multiple quantum nodes. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of collaboration and the ongoing efforts to prove the feasibility of a Quantum Internet, hinting at current experiments and the future potential of this technology.

In the final paragraph, the speaker invites the audience to engage further with quantum technology through the Quantum Network Explorer, a resource developed by their research institute. This platform allows users to explore and even run algorithms on a quantum network, providing a hands-on introduction to the field. The speaker also encourages direct communication for further questions, emphasizing their commitment to spreading knowledge about the Quantum Internet and its potential to revolutionize information processing and security.