A group of scientists led by researchers of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) realized entanglement-based secure quantum cryptography over 1,120 kilometers through the Micius quantum science satellite, the most advanced quantum key distribution (QKD) demonstration so far in the world.

Schematic diagram of entanglement-based quantum secure communication experiment over one thousand kilometers without relay [IMAGE: UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF CHINA]

It is a breakthrough in the practical quantum communication to increase the secure distance on the ground by an order of magnitude without the need for trusted relays, even if the satellite is controlled by an adversary,  ensuring the security based on the fundamental laws of nature.

Research teams from USTC revealed a prototype quantum computer which they named Jiuzhang, after the ancient Chinese mathematics text. The device is able to manipulate 76 quantum bits, or qubits, for calculations.

They also realized Gaussian boson sampling (GBS), which boasts good perspective for practical application.

Their achievement brought China to the first milestone for quantum computing research, called the quantum computational advantage, or quantum supremacy.

In addition, scientists from the Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have achieved coherent synthesis of a single molecule for the first time in the world, marking the start of the research on comprehensive coherent manipulation of all degrees of freedom of atom-molecule systems.

Source: University of Science and Technology of China,

Chinese Academy of Sciences