Stony Brook and Brookhaven researchers achieve wireless quantum transmission

Researchers from Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory have achieved a major milestone in quantum communications by successfully transmitting quantum information through open air. In a first-of-its-kind demonstration in the United States, light particles known as photons were sent via a laser from Stony Brook’s Quantum Watchtower to Brookhaven’s Quantum Lighthouse in Upton, New York, covering a distance of approximately 13 miles.

This successful free-space optical link demonstrates the potential to expand quantum networks beyond the physical constraints of traditional fiber-optic cables. The achievement is seen as a critical step toward building an interconnected ecosystem of quantum computers and devices. The existing New York quantum network already spans 161 miles and connects eight nodes, and this wireless capability could significantly enhance its reach and infrastructure.