Quantum communication with Gaussian channels of zero quantum capacity

As with classical information(1,2), error-correcting codes enable reliable transmission of quantum information through noisy or lossy channels(3-5). In contrast to classical theory, imperfect quantum channels exhibit a strong kind of synergy: pairs of discrete memoryless quantum channels exist, each of zero quantum capacity, which acquire positive quantum capacity when used together(6). Here, we show that this 'superactivation' phenomenon also occurs in the more realistic setting of optical channels with attenuation and Gaussian noise(7,8). This paves the way for its experimental realization and application in real-world communications systems.