Physicists in the Netherlands have, for the first time, demonstrated the feasibility of teleportation. An experiment at Delft University of Technology, under the supervision of Ronald Hanson, the scientists were able to send data from one quantum particle to another particle at a distance of roughly three meters. They were able to repeat this experiment with a 100% success rate on numerous other occasions.
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Now, before we all start investing in transporter technology start-ups, this was more of trial run to demonstrate that such a process was possible. Nothing in the laws of physics prevents the teleportation of large objects, including humans, according to Professor Hanson. The scientists are relying on the scientific notion of 'quantum entanglement' which in laymen's terms means that when two particles carry the same information, such as in this experiment's case a 'spin', then those particles can be affected, due to their merged identity, across, theoretically, the entire length of the universe.
''If you believe we are nothing more than a collection of atoms strung together in a particular way, then in principle it should be possible to teleport ourselves from one place to another," Hanson said, speaking with the Daily Telegraph. If we ever do achieve the capability of transporting people as we do in Star Trek, Hanson remarks that "If it ever does happen it will be far in the future.''
At this point I would like to remind you that in the Star Trek universe, the transporter system worked by, essentially, killing you every time you stepped onto the platform. Though perhaps calling it a 'save' or 'dematerialization/rematerialization' is slightly more accurate. The technology essentially broke down every single one of the molecules in your body, and then transferred that information, not the particles themselves, to the surface of whatever planet Kirk or Picard were heading to and reconfigured you into a person. The first time we see Riker beamed down is the last time we see original Riker. Hell, something went wrong once and we ended up with two Rikers, because the original was not destroyed.
Even if human transportation does not come about, Hanson has other, more humane ideas for the technology. "The main application of quantum teleportation is a quantum version of the internet, extending a global network that we can use to send quantum information." Suck on that, cable providers.
The experiments at Delft University will go a long way in challenging Einstein, who was an opponent of the theory of quantum entanglement and many parts of quantum physics.
In 2008, popular physicist Michio Kaku told Discovery magazines that he thinks a Star Trek style transporter will be made within 100 years. So far, we seem to be on the right track.
Beam me up, Scotty, indeed.
