Daniel Oi at the University of Strathclyde says, "We
are approaching the borders of how specifically we can experiment quantum
theory on Earth”. The National University of Singapore and the
University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom, have become the only Institute to
experiment in orbit equipment for satellite based quantum setup nodes. With a
setup that transfers information in the quantum properties of single elements,
you can build protected keys for secret messaging and will actually connect
great quantum computers in the upcoming days. But researchers think you will
need equipment and technology in space to get worldwide reach.
They have put a small device holding components used in quantum messages or quantum communications and computing into orbit. And it does work: the scientists report first data in a paper written on 31 May 2016 in the Journal Physical Review Applied (JPRA). The device build by the scientists, dubbed SPEQS, makes and measures sets of light particles, known as photons. Results of experiments from space illustrate that SPEQS is making sets of photons with related properties - an indicator of Performa
Alexander Ling, leading the team of scientists, an Assistant
Lecturer at the Center for Quantum Technologies, said at National University of
Singapore (NUS), "This is the first time in the history of Quantum study
that anyone has experimented this kind of quantum technology in outer space".
Scientists had to be inventive to remake a sensitive,
table-top quantum system to be compact and strong enough to fly inside a
nano-satellite, which is only the size of a shoebox. The entire satellite
weighs just 1.65 kilograms. Making related photons is a sign of making entangled
photons. Entanglement is a joining between quantum elements that gives safety
to communication and control to computing.
Artur Ekert, Director of Centre for Quantum Technologies
(CQT) said, "Alex and his team of scientists are taking entanglement,
factually, to a whole new level. Their tests will build the road to safeguard
quantum communication and scattered quantum computation on a worldwide
scale". Artur Ekert invented the concept of using entangled elements for
cryptography. Artur Ekert said I am glad to see that Singapore is one of the
world leaders in this study."
Local quantum setups already exist. The problem Alexander
Ling's team wants to answer is a distance limit. Losses limit quantum signs
directed through the air at ground level or optical fiber to a few 100s
kilometers, but we might finally use entangled photons emitted from satellites
to link points on different sides of our planet. Though photons from satellites
still have to travel the distance through the atmosphere, going top-to-bottom
is almost equivalent to going only ten kilometers at ground level. The team's first device is a technology guide. It sends
photons from a Blu-ray laser and separates them into two, at that point
measures the pair's properties, all this work is done on the satellite. To do
this it covers a laser diode, mirrors, crystals and photon detectors sensibly
united inside an aluminum tablet. This sits above 10 centimeters by 10
centimeters printed track or circuit board packed with control electronics. Through a sequence of pre-launch experiments, and one
unfortunate event, the team became more self-confident that their design could
persist a rocket launch and space situations. The team had an equipment in the
October 2014 Orbital-3 rocket which exploded in the launch area. The satellite
holding that first device was found on a coastline intact and still can work in
a proper order.
Even with the achievement of the more recent operations and
mission, a global system is still a few milestones away. The group's roadmap
requires a series of launches, with the upcoming space-bound SPEQS planned to
generate entangled photons. SPEQS is an abbreviation of “Small Photon-Entangling
Quantum System”.
Scientists will work on emitting entangled photons to Earth
and to many other satellites. Scientists are working with average
"CubeSat" nano-satellites, which can get comparatively cheap trips
into space as rocket ballast. Finally, finishing a global network or a global
system would mean having a task force of satellites in orbit and a collection
of ground posts.
Meanwhile, quantum satellites could also transfer important
experiments, for instance, analyzing entanglement over distances bigger than
Earth-bound researchers can control.
