What is actually teleported?

Abstract

There are no ``unknown quantum states.'' It's a contradiction in terms. Moreover, Alice and Bob are only inanimate objects. They know nothing. What is teleported instantaneously from one system (Alice) to another system (Bob) is the applicability of the preparer's knowledge to the state of a particular qubit in these systems. The operation necessitates dual classical and quantum channels. Other examples of dual transmission, including ``unspeakable information,'' will be presented and discussed. This article also includes a narrative of how I remember that quantum teleportation was conceived.Comment: preliminary version, to be submitted to IBM Journal of R&