Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 1 day ago
Researchers link 13 photonic qubits without destroying the photons
A team of Chinese researchers demonstrated a way to connect small groups of entangled microwave photons into a larger network.
The experiment used superconducting circuits and linked 13 photonic qubits.
Qubits are the basic units of quantum information, and entanglement links them so their shared state cannot be described separately.
Existing methods for joining entangled groups can fail and may require repeated attempts.
The team used a measurement that extracts information while preserving the photons, and tuned their frequencies to choose which pairs to connect.
The result was entanglement across the full group, rather than only within smaller groups.
Larger, reconfigurable networks of this kind could support quantum computing, communication and error correction, though the work is a step toward those uses.
A team of Chinese researchers demonstrated a method for joining smaller groups of entangled microwave photons into larger, programmable quantum networks without destroying the photons.
The researchers used a superconducting circuit and quantum nondemolition measurement to connect the photon groups.
By tuning photon frequencies, the team could select which photon pairs underwent measurement and control how the groups were connected.
The experiment demonstrated genuine multipartite entanglement across 13 photonic qubits, meaning the entanglement extended across the whole group.
The approach could support future quantum computing and communication, but the system still needs improvements in device accuracy, photon-generation efficiency and detector performance.
- Who
- A team of Chinese researchers; the senior study author was Hongyi Zhang of Tsinghua University.
- What
- A programmable, nondestructive method for joining entangled microwave-photon groups, demonstrated across 13 photonic qubits.
- When
- The article was published on October 10, 2026; the study date is not stated.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- To provide a potential route to larger, reconfigurable photonic graph states for quantum computing and communication.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Large photonic graph states are important resources for quantum communication, quantum networks and measurement-based quantum computing,
Our main contribution is a fusion operation that is deterministic, programmable and nondestructive,
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Entangled photonic qubits demonstrated
- 13
- Photon type
- Microwave photons
- Key device
- A superconducting circuit
- Senior study author
- Hongyi Zhang, Tsinghua University
- Article publication date
- October 10, 2026
Sources
Related news
Turkish students win record 78 medals at international science olympiads
Hurricane Simon and cold front to bring heavy rain across Mexico
China’s first five national parks score highly on ecological benefits
CCCC design for deep-sea survey ship passes expert review
September was the world’s second-warmest on record
Brisbane faces a chance of rain and thunderstorms after warmer weather
Indonesia tests mosque loudspeakers as earthquake warning alarms
Belo Monte faces debate over water flows as its license renewal approaches
Heavy rain advisory issued for mountainous area of Seogwipo
Rachel downgraded after flooding and damage in Southern California
China’s First Five National Parks Report Wildlife and Ecosystem Gains
