What does quantum computing mean for the commercial aviation of tomorrow? We sat down with Mathias Van Den Bossche — director of research, development and product policy at Thales Alenia Space — for an overview of how quantum technology will change aviation, for the latest in our ab initio primer guides.
To begin with, Van Den Bossche tells us following a presentation at the Paris Air Show, “quantum is the physics that rules the objects that are the smallest bits of reality: atoms, molecules, nucleii, electrons, photons, these kind of objects.”
Today’s technology is based on the first quantum revolution in roughly 1940-60, which laid the groundwork for our modern information society using the fluxes of these quantum objects: the flux of electrons in a transistor, for example, or the flux of photons in lasers.
Tomorrow’s technology stems from the science behind the second revolution, beginning in the 1980s, and stemmed from an understanding of new quantum laws, including:
- contextual measurements
- probabilistic predictions
- non-locality
- macroscopic decoherence
These are all complicated topics and diving deep into them is beyond the scope of this ab initio guide, but we’ll fast-forward to the end result for aviation — improvements in:
- computing and processing, with new logical gates, new algorithms and enabling massive parallelism
- sensors, with ultrastable references, high environmental sensitivity and ultra-high precision
- communications, connecting sensors with computers, enhancing the performance of both, and resulting in a step change in confidentiality and information security
Quantum computing and processing
A key takeaway for us in aviation is that computers using these principles can solve more complex problems, more quickly, and using less power.
For incredibly complex tasks, Van Den Bossche explains, quantum computing “can reduce from centuries to minutes the processing, but it also can reduce from minutes to picoseconds the processing of much simpler tasks.”
With the growth in computer modelling in almost all of aviation, quantum computing is likely to lead to advances in everything from chemistry and materials to industrial processes — and nothing short of a revolution in the digital space.
Quantum sensors
When it comes to sensors, quantum technology is more compact, more sensitive and, like computing, can be used massively in parallel.
Quantum sensors in everything from antennae (smaller than a fingernail) to accelerometers (enabling more sensitive navigation than GPS without the need for satellites) and a next generation of hypersensitive monitoring sensors to replace what aviation uses today will drive groundbreaking change.
Quantum communications
Here, Van Den Bossche explains, quantum splits into two key concepts. The first, quantum information networks, result from the need “to make networks of quantum devices: big networks of quantum computers, or creating extended quantum sensors. Behind that, you have to transfer quantum information between these devices. And for that, you need a new kind of network that we call quantum information networks, because they just transport quantum information.”
Existing networks, even fibreoptics, are not sufficiently capable for creating quantum information networks. Hence, Thales is leading this particular work through its Thales Alenia Space joint venture with Leonardo, because satellite connectivity is one key way that fully capable quantum information networks can be formed.
The second concept is quantum key distribution, where the keys are encryption keys for cryptography and other secure purposes, including confidential true random numbers at a massive scale.
“If you are able to share confidential true random, it’s the dream for a cryptographer because you have an encryption key that is completely secure, and it’s secured by the laws of physics,” Van Den Bossche says.
2030 quantum technology roadmap
Towards 2030, Van Den Bossche tells us, the plan is to move towards operational quantum information networks in the 2030s, including with a functional satellite link in 2027, QINSAT. By 2030, extra-small superconducting antennae are on the cards, as are the building blocks for a quantum inertial system. From there, the roadmap leads to proving quantum algorithms on the 2030s’ quantum platforms, as engineering tools, and as building blocks for a next generation of innovations.
Author: John Walton
Published 28 June 2023
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