Researchers Alexander Szameit (R) and Marco Ornigotti (L) pose with their laser-based teleportation device and models of the USS Enterprise. Photo by the University of Jena

JENA, Germany, March 4 (UPI) -- Using a series of laser beams, a pair of German scientists successfully teleported classical information without the transfer or matter or energy.

Researchers have previously demonstrated local teleportation within the world of quantum particles. But the latest experiment successfully translates the phenomenon for classical physics.


"Elementary particles such as electrons and light particles exist per se in a spatially delocalized state," Alexander Szameit, a professor at the University of Jena, explained in a press release.

In other words, these particles can be in two places at the same time.

"Within such a system spread across multiple locations, it is possible to transmit information from one location to another without any loss of time," Szameit said.

By coupling the properties of classical information, researchers were able to use quantum teleportation for classical teleportation. Classical information is coupled using a process called "entanglement."

"As can be done with the physical states of elementary particles, the properties of light beams can also be entangled," said researcher Marco Ornigotti. "You link the information you would like to transmit to a particular property of the light."

Researchers used polarization to encode information within a laser beam, enabling the teleportation of information instantly and in its entirety without loss of time.

Whereas quantum information and quantum systems describe particle properties that are inferred, classical information describes physical properties directly measured.

The first-of-its-kind demonstration was detailed this week in the journal Laser & Photonics Reviews.