Quantum Information Science

Advances in quantum information science have the potential to revolutionize the way we process and share information.

 
Quantum physics describes the laws of nature at the atomic scale, and the discovery of these laws was one of the most important achievements of modern science. It enabled the development of revolutionary technologies such as the transistors that power electronics and computers, the ultrasensitive detectors used in medical imaging, and the atomic clocks in GPS satellites.

Now experts in quantum information are exploiting quantum physics to overcome many of the fundamental limitations of our traditional sensing and communications networks, turning nature’s quantum properties to practical advantage and opening new ways to collect and process information.
 

Quantum entanglement

Entanglement is a special, powerful correlation between quantum particles. It occurs when two or more particles are inseparably correlated. When one makes a measurement of one particle in an entangled pair, one gains information about both.

Scientists use entanglement to enable new ways of sharing information. Leveraging that feature is at the heart of Q-NEXT’s work.

Q-NEXT is building entanglement-enabled technologies that:

  • overcome losses that occur when quantum information is communicated over long distances
  • are giving rise to new classes of ultraprecise sensors
  • are based on new quantum materials, integrating them into devices and systems
  • are deployed for simulation and characterization

Quantum entanglement swapping

If we want quantum computers to reach their full potential, we’ll need complex networks of the machines strung together with quantum repeaters.

Quantum squeezing

The quantum squeezing technique provides a way to improve the measurement sensitivity of properties at nature’s tiniest scales, bringing greater precision to time keeping and astronomy.

Quantum coherence

Preserving coherence keeps quantum systems clear and comprehensible. Scientists work to increase coherence life times to sync up quantum objects for high-resolution sensing and complex computation.

Impacts of quantum information

The impacts of quantum information systems are expected to be transformational.

Encrypted communication channels secure against hacking
One of the nonintuitive principles of quantum mechanics is that spying on a quantum-encrypted communication causes the communicated information to be corrupted and unreadable. Quantum communication can, therefore, be fundamentally secure in a way that no traditional communication can.
Sensors of unprecedented sensitivity
Taking advantage quantum physics, scientists are building sensors that can pick up nature’s tiniest signals with extreme precision, making ultrasensitive measurements in areas of biological, astronomical, technological and military interest.
Computational solutions to intractable problems
In areas such as cryptanalysis or simulations of the physical world, quantum computers will perform calculations much more efficiently and accurately than traditional computers, providing solutions to highly complex problems in areas such as logistics, finance and healthcare.

Quantum information science at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science

How quantum technologies may impact your life | David Awschalom | TEDxChicago

Quantum for the people: connecting quantum information science and society – 2022 AAAS Meeting

A century ago, the pioneers of quantum theory could not have imagined their work would lead to today’s technologies. As we advance the science of quantum information, we expect to identify applications that benefit people in ways that we could not envision today.