First quantum global satellite launch foreign media in China: satellites, China took a big step | | _ quantum satellite news
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 16-16th China successfully launched the world's first quantum scientific experiment satellite, making quantum information technology into the spotlight again. Nature of the international academic world famous website reported that this "special space race", Chinese "took a great step forward".
Around the world, announced in April that the quantum technologies as the new flagship of the European Union research project, meet the "second quantum revolution"; United States the White House recommended in July that increase investment in quantum information science, called it a "national challenges and opportunities".
The second quantum revolution
Some more than 100 years ago, we live in a universe that is normal, classic, everything is normal, there is nothing surprising. Subsequently, quantum theory has emerged.
All of a sudden, things are not always in line with a rational person expect. At the micro scale, a particle can be in two places at once, you can even simultaneously in two different directions. And between particles can be entangled with each other--a way to remote sensing, influencing each other.
Theory of the origins in 1900, Planck's quantum mechanics describes these seemingly magical phenomena. The theory gaining experimental support in more than 100 years has spawned many great inventions-the atomic bomb, laser, transistor, MRI, global satellite positioning system, changed the face of the world. EU announced in April by quantum technologies as a new flagship research project, in a statement, referred to above as "first quantum revolution".
Quantum information technology is the latest development of quantum mechanics, represents the rise of the "second quantum revolution". In quantum information technology, is the most representative of quantum communication and quantum computation. Quantum satellite, China is a global leader in quantum communications experiment platform, but before focusing on quantum communication, take a look at the power of quantum computing.
In accordance with the development of quantum theory quantum computers will have powerful computing power, millions of times faster than conventional computers. One of the reasons is that each bit in the traditional computer only 0 and 12 States, a qubit can have multiple States. United States agencies such as NASA, Google announced in 2015, cooperative development D-Wave solving quantum Simulator on certain issues have reached 100 million times over traditional computers. Although this has not been the international academic community considered the real quantum computer, but the enormous potential of quantum computing has accentuates.
Quantum battle
Quantum computing poses great challenges to privacy. Quantum innovation excellence Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor Lu Chaoyang told the Xinhua News Agency reporter, defense, finance and other areas widely used communication encryption is based on the computational complexity of mathematical, wait until a large-scale quantum computer really available when in front of the super computing power, these passwords the system will fail.
For example, quantum computing will be like to break all traditions of secrecy system, "Lee spear".
"God closes a door, but open a window," said Lu Chaoyang, also from quantum theory of quantum communication technology provides a new means for confidentiality. It of based is physical law, like in with a light quantum passed information Shi, due to single photon has is minimum unit, hacking who cannot through interception "half photon" to Gets information; and hacking who tries to on this photon of State for measurement Shi, quantum measuring no principle and led to this light quantum of State occurred change, this makes hacking must was perceived and was communications both avoid. Objective is that no one can change the laws of physics, that is, the field of quantum communication to be confidential new "shield".
At present, the quantum communication the main applications of quantum key distribution, known as quantum cryptography, quantum communication methods that is used to transmit passwords. In addition, there is an exploration of the frontiers of quantum teleportation, which uses principles of quantum entanglement, quantum States can be an instant transmission to remote locations, closer than some science fiction depicted in "remote delivery."
A new technology race
"I believe quantum technology in the 21st century the importance compared with the last century's Manhattan project," quantum Institute of Excellence Innovation Centre Director, quantum project's Chief Scientist, academician Pan Jianwei, China said. In other words, quantum technologies may change the pattern of the world like a Manhattan project to build atomic bombs.
Due to the great prospect of quantum communication and quantum computation, all countries are racing to develop related technologies. The EU announced in April this year, invest € 1 billion in support of quantum technology, this is the European Union following the Graphene and Brain Science after the third flagship research project. One of the project leaders, Germany integrate quantum science and Technology Center Director tuomasuo·kalaerke said that when determining the first two flagship projects in the European Union, now ripe to quantum technology was selected. Because that is the snow to expose United States prior to the mass sweeps. Europe wants more confidentiality of communications technology.
United States White House just at the end of July an official post, citing the United States National Science and Technology Committee report proposed in July that the quantum information science: the challenges and opportunities of the country, it is recommended that increase investment in quantum information science. In fact, United States, various government departments such as defence and space agency, China Research Institute of standards and technology (NIST) and other early research into quantum information technology. Especially NIST received United States Government support for high strength and stability, substantial funding each year. In the past more than 10 years, NIST quantum control and quantum information field of 5 Nobel Prize winners in physics.
Many high-tech companies have invested heavily in quantum technology. Such as Google and the United States Space Agency, the University of California, Santa Barbara, set up the quantum artificial intelligence laboratory, and launch a quantum computer scheme in 2014, IBM announced that it would in the next 5 years in a few areas with a focus on quantum computing technology invest US $ 3 billion; there are a relatively small technology companies are also emerging, such as Battele company is running the United States first commercial quantum cryptography network.
China satellite trends
Quantum scientific experimental satellite China launched, for the first time in space and quantum communication and quantum computation many experiments related to the, in particular will create a world of quantum communication network integration. In the face of fierce global competition, the "first quantum satellite" title did not come easily.
"The race in quantum communication since 1995 in Lake Geneva quantum key distribution at the end of the initial presentation began," United States yalishanda·xieerjiyanke, a quantum physicist at Boston University told Xinhua that he was referring to Europe in the world's first quantum communications experiment. Academician Pan Jianwei and also to Austria from the leading experts in the field of quantum Science Professor Czeilinger. Czeilinger applications for teams in Europe to launch satellites, but the approval process is not smooth, now partner of quantum satellite project in China.
In Asia, Singapore in 2014, scientists try to launch "cubesat". This is a kind of micro-satellites, could also be used for some experimental quantum technology, although quantum satellite function is much weaker than with China. But unfortunately, bear the Mission of United States orbit ATK's rocket explosion in October 2014 that task.
Chinese satellite was successfully launched, will perform the star high-speed quantum key distribution in quantum communication, wide-area networks, satellite-ground quantum entanglement distribution and star scientific, such as quantum teleportation experiments. The journal nature reported that China in this "special space race" went in front. Czeilinger also said the success of China's satellites, will also enable quantum satellite teams from other countries easier access to funding and support.
Pan Jianwei team are the backbone of the satellite project, they also dominated the second half of this year will be delivered using's "Beijing-Shanghai trunk" quantum communication network, which will be the world's largest quantum communication network. It can be said that research and applications in quantum communication, China is now the world leader.
Because of the quantum technology experiments are done on the ground, quantum, China satellite could also break new scientific research. Lu Chaoyang said, in case of changes in the laws of quantum mechanics in space, "that would open the door to new physics." (Reporters Huang 堃, and Yang Jun, Lin Xiaochun, Ka Wai Cheung, and Guo Yang)
Responsible editor: Zheng Hanxing
Article keywords:China-satellite quantum satellite
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中国首颗全球量子卫星发射 外媒：迈出一大步|中国卫星|量子卫星_新闻资讯
新华社北京8月16日电 中国16日成功发射全球首颗量子科学实验卫星，使得量子信息技术再次进入聚光灯下。国际学术界著名的《自然》网站相关报道说，在这场“特殊的太空竞赛”中，中国“迈出了一大步”。
放眼全球，欧盟4月宣布将量子技术作为新的旗舰科研项目，迎接“第二次量子革命”；美国白宫7月建议加大对量子信息科学的投入，称这是“国家的挑战与机遇”。
第二次量子革命
大约一百多年前，我们生活在一个很正常、经典的宇宙里，一切都合乎常情，没有什么奇怪表现。随后，量子理论出现了。
突然间，事物的表现不再总是合乎一个理性的人的料想了。在微观尺度上，一个粒子可以同时处于两个地方，甚至可以同时向两个不同的方向运动。而且粒子之间可以互相纠缠——通过某种方式即时地远程感知、影响对方。
起源于1900年普朗克所提理论的量子力学，描述了这些看似魔法的物理现象。这套理论不断获得实验支持，在一百多年里催生了许多重大发明——原子弹、激光、晶体管、核磁共振、全球卫星定位系统等，改变了世界面貌。欧盟今年4月宣布将量子技术作为新的旗舰科研项目，在公告中称上述成果为“第一次量子革命”。
量子信息技术是量子力学的最新发展，代表了正兴起的“第二次量子革命”。在量子信息技术中，最具代表性的是量子通信和量子计算。中国的量子卫星就是全球领先的量子通信实验平台，不过在重点介绍量子通信之前，先来看看量子计算的威力。
依照量子理论研发的量子计算机将具有强大的计算能力，速度快过传统计算机亿万倍。其原因之一是，传统计算机中的每个比特位只有0和1两种状态，而一个量子比特位可以有多个状态。美国航天局、谷歌公司等机构在2015年宣布，合作开发的D-Wave量子模拟机对某些问题的求解速度已达到传统计算机的1亿倍。虽然这还不被国际学术界认为是真正的量子计算机，但量子计算的巨大潜力已然展露无遗。
量子攻防战
量子计算给保密带来了巨大挑战。中科院量子卓越创新中心的陆朝阳教授告诉新华社记者，现在国防、金融等领域广泛使用的通信密码都是基于数学上的计算复杂度，等到大规模量子计算机真正面世的时候，在超强的计算能力面前，这些密码系统就都会失效。
打个比方，量子计算便如可攻破一切传统保密系统的“利矛”。
“上帝关闭了一扇门，但又打开了一扇窗，”陆朝阳说，同样源自量子理论的量子通信技术又为保密提供了新手段。它的基础是物理规律，比如在用一个光量子传递信息时，由于单光子已是最小单元，窃听者无法通过截取“半个光子”来获取信息；而窃听者试图对这个光子的状态进行测量时，量子测不准原理又导致这个光量子的状态发生改变，这使窃听必然被察觉并被通信双方规避。客观物理规律是没有人能改变的，也就是说，量子通信成为保密领域新的“坚盾”。
目前，量子通信的主要应用方式是量子密钥分配，也就是俗称的量子密码，即用量子通信方式来传输密码。此外，还有一个探索中的前沿领域是量子隐形传态，它利用量子纠缠原理，可以瞬间把量子态传输到遥远地点，接近于一些科幻小说中描写的“远程传送”。
新一轮科技竞赛
“我相信量子技术在21世纪的重要性可与上个世纪的曼哈顿计划相比，”中科院量子卓越创新中心主任、中国量子卫星项目首席科学家潘建伟院士说。也就是说，量子技术可能像曼哈顿计划造出原子弹那样改变世界格局。
由于量子通信和量子计算的巨大前景，各个大国都在竞相发展相关技术。欧盟今年4月宣布，投入10亿欧元支持量子技术，这是欧盟继石墨烯和脑科学之后的第三个旗舰型科研项目。该项目领导者之一、德国整合量子科学和技术中心负责人托马索·卡拉尔科说，在欧盟确定头两个旗舰项目时，量子技术入选的时机不如现在成熟。因为那是在斯诺登揭露美国的大规模监听活动之前。现在欧洲希望有更具保密性的通信技术。
美国白宫也刚刚在7月底发布官方博文，援引美国国家科技委员会7月提出的报告《推进量子信息科学：国家的挑战与机遇》，建议加大对量子信息科学的投入。实际上，美国多个政府部门如中国国防部、航天局、国家标准与技术研究所（NIST）等早就对量子信息技术研究大量投入。尤其是NIST得到美国政府高强度和稳定的支持，每年获得大量经费。在过去10余年间，NIST在量子调控和量子信息领域产生了5名诺贝尔物理学奖获得者。
许多高科技公司也在量子技术方面大量投入。如谷歌与美国航天局、加利福尼亚大学圣巴巴拉分校联合成立了量子人工智能实验室，并推出了量子计算机开发计划；2014年，IBM宣布将于随后5年内在以量子计算技术为重点的一些领域投入30亿美元；还有一些相对较小的科技公司也崭露头角，比如Battele公司正在运行美国第一个商业化的量子密码通信网络。
中国卫星引领潮流
中国量子科学实验卫星升空，将首次在太空开展与量子通信和量子计算相关的诸多实验，特别是将打造一张天地一体化的量子通信网。在激烈的全球竞争中，“第一颗量子卫星”的头衔来之不易。
“量子通信的竞赛自1995年在日内瓦湖底进行量子密钥分发的最初演示时就开始了，”美国波士顿大学的量子物理学家亚历山大·谢尔吉延科告诉新华社记者，他指的是欧洲在全世界最早进行了量子通信实验。潘建伟院士最初也是到奥地利师从量子科学领域权威专家蔡林格教授。蔡林格团队曾在欧洲申请发射卫星，但审批过程不顺利，现在成为中国量子卫星项目的合作方。
在亚洲，新加坡科学家在2014年曾尝试发射“立方体卫星”。这是一类微型卫星，也能用于一些量子技术实验，尽管与中国的量子卫星相比功能要弱很多。但不幸的是，承担发射任务的美国轨道ATK公司的火箭在2014年10月那次任务中爆炸。
中国卫星成功发射，将执行星地高速量子密钥分发、广域量子通信网络、星地量子纠缠分发以及地星量子隐形传态等多项科学实验任务。《自然》杂志相关报道说，中国在这场“特殊的太空竞赛”中走在了前面。蔡林格也表示，中国卫星的成功，也将促使其他国家的量子卫星团队更容易获得资助和支持。
潘建伟科研团队是这个卫星项目中的中坚力量，他们还主导了今年下半年将交付使用的“京沪干线”量子通信网，这也将是全世界规模最大的量子通信网。可以说，在量子通信研究和应用方面，中国现在是世界的排头兵。
由于此前的量子技术实验都是在地上完成，中国的量子卫星还可能为科学理论研究带来新的突破。陆朝阳说，万一量子力学的某些规律在太空中发生变化的话，“那就打开了新的物理学的大门”。（记者黄堃、杨骏、林小春、张家伟、郭洋）
责任编辑：郑汉星
文章关键词： 中国卫星 量子卫星
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