Let’s talk about quantum

When we think of quantum, it is often quantum computing that comes to mind.

But quantum computing is just one aspect of quantum technology, which, in fact, is nothing new. Quantum physics has been revolutionizing our world for over a hundred years, responsible for technologies as diverse and divisive as nuclear weapons and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

According to a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) the power of quantum resides on its capability to advance every one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here are a few ways how:

A powerful weapon against climate change

Quantum sensors are extremely sensitive, able to detect miniscule changes in elements such as temperature or pressure with enormous precision.

This can be used to dramatically improve energy efficiency in buildings and grids, for example, through its ability to detect and monitor usage, failures and leaks.

Quantum technologies can also be used to detect minute variations in gravity and thus mass density, allowing them to accurately spot material changes or voids under the ground, which in turn could be used to predict sink hole formation and map complex tunnel structures. It can also play a role in monitoring environmental changes, such as greenhouse gas concentrations and temperature variations in the atmosphere and oceans which is necessary to mitigate climate change impacts.

Quantum materials are promising innovative technologies for energy efficiency and clean energy production. For example, high temperature superconductors can conduct electricity much more efficiently, while quantum dot solar cells have the potential to increase conversion of sunlight into electricity by up to 66%.

More accurate navigation

Quantum is revolutionizing navigation by enabling more accurate positioning than current GPS capabilities, and with the potential to overcome current GPS limitations, such as outages when out of range, as well as cyberattacks.

Quantum sensors are also resistance to noise and interference, which can cause errors in current navigation systems and can operate at much higher speeds and in environments where classical sensors would fail, such as those with high temperatures or radiation.

All of which makes the technology extremely promising for aviation and space exploration, while supporting SDG 9 for industry, innovation and infrastructure.

Medical breakthroughs

Quantum sensing also has the potential for innovative medical discoveries through its ability to measure electromagnetic fields of the brain and other organs, which is laying the foundations for technologies such as brain-computer interfaces. Quantum imaging techniques could allow for more accurate, high-resolution imaging of internal organs that could revolutionize disease diagnosis.

It is also paving the way for more personalized and less invasive medical treatments, for example by being able to monitor things like radiation levels during cancer therapy.

Secure communication

Quantum cryptography is a way of encrypting and transmitting data based on the laws of quantum mechanics, and therefore, theoretically, unhackable.

Unless quantum computers evolve to be able to decrypt them, of course, which may or may not ever happen. If it does, it could break many of the encryption schemes that are currently used, such as in banking transactions, personal data and blockchain, which would have disastrous effects, such as potentially making all cryptocurrencies worthless.

International standards present a valuable opportunity to help tackle this problem while at the same time enabling the benefits of quantum to be realized without the risks. A lot of work is already underway.

The joint IEC and ISO technical committee for Quantum technologies, JTC 3, is working on standards for all aspects of quantum, including computing, metrology, sources, detectors, communications and fundamental quantum technologies.

Learn more in the latest edition of e-tech.

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