Why is it impossible to teleport quantum states?

In summary, Wikipedia explains that it is not possible to transform a quantum state to classical information and back to the same state. This is because when a quantum state is measured, it collapses to one of a few possible values and information is lost. This is due to the fact that a quantum state contains an infinite amount of information, while a measurement can only yield one bit of information. Therefore, it is impossible to copy an arbitrary quantum state to classical information if there is only one copy of the quantum state available for measurement.
  • #1
Jarwulf
31
0
Wikipedia simply says that it is impossible to transform a quantum state to classical info and then back to the same state but doesn't really give a reason why. Can anybody explain in simple terms the reasoning behind this.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
When you measure a quantum state it collapses to one of sometimes many values for that observable. You cannot reconstruct the original state because information has been lost.
 
  • #3
It's the first step that fails. An arbitrary quantum state of one qubit can be written a|0> + b|1>, where a and b are two complex constants. Because they're continuous they can have any value, and thus be said to represent an infinite number of bits of information. However, any measurement on the system, can only yield either 0 or 1, i.e. one single bit of information. Since an infinite number of bits can never be represented by one single bit, it's of course then clear that you can never copy an arbitrary quantum state to classical information if you only have a single copy of the quantum state to measure on.
 

1. What is the "No teleportation theorem"?

The "No teleportation theorem" is a concept in quantum mechanics which states that it is impossible to perfectly teleport an unknown quantum state from one location to another. This means that it is not possible to create an identical copy of an unknown quantum state in a different location without physically moving it.

2. Why is it impossible to teleport an unknown quantum state?

The "No teleportation theorem" is based on the principles of quantum mechanics, specifically the principle of superposition and the no-cloning theorem. These principles state that it is impossible to create an identical copy of an unknown quantum state without physically moving it, as doing so would destroy the original state.

3. Can quantum entanglement be used for teleportation?

Quantum entanglement, which is the phenomenon of two or more particles being connected in such a way that the state of one particle is dependent on the state of the other, is often associated with teleportation. However, the "No teleportation theorem" still applies in this case as the entangled particles must be physically transported to their respective locations in order to be measured, breaking the entanglement and destroying the original state.

4. Are there any exceptions to the "No teleportation theorem"?

While the "No teleportation theorem" applies to unknown quantum states, it is possible to teleport known quantum states. This is because knowing the state of a particle allows for it to be recreated in a different location without violating the principle of superposition.

5. What are the practical implications of the "No teleportation theorem"?

The "No teleportation theorem" has implications for the development of quantum technologies, specifically in the fields of quantum computing and quantum communication. It also has implications for our understanding of the fundamental laws of physics and the nature of reality.

Similar threads

Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
7
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
647
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
6
Views
994
  • Quantum Physics
5
Replies
143
Views
6K
Replies
16
Views
1K
Replies
10
Views
1K
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
1
Views
794
Back
Top