A quantum leap by China

From the creation of a crude (but effective) quantum supercomputer, to the development of a truly “unhackable” messaging service, and a successful quantum satellite experiment, it is no surprise that global scientists are paying close attention to what China does next. 
In fact, China’s foray into quantum technology is likely to move so quickly that people may soon no longer need to google the term to find out what it actually means! Until then though, quantum technology is based on quantum bits or ‘qubits’, enabling messages to be embedded in particles of light. Traditional computer bits must have a binary value of either zero or one, while qubits can represent both values simultaneously. This means information can be processed faster and more securely than ever before because more calculations can be processed simultaneously. 
Although it sounds complex, quantum technology will enable us to do the tasks we’ve always done – such as sending messages or processing information – but we’ll be able to do so faster and more securely. In fact, quantum computers may be able to solve certain problems in days that would take classical computers millions of years to solve. 
Chinese researchers have recently put this science into practice by building a rudimentary quantum computer that can wildly outperform conventional computers and make calculations 24,000 times faster than quantum computers built by companies such as IBM and D-Wave. 
China has also been conducting research into quantum cryptography, which uses photons (one form of a qubit) to send information securely. A quantum communications service – capable of sending 4,000 pieces of data per second – is due to be tested by a small group of government, finance and military officials in the city of Jinan. This technology is ideal for confidential communication, as any hacking attempts will cause the photons to be corrupted, rendering the message unreadable.
Chinese researchers were also recently able to transmit photons from an orbiting satellite down to a single spot in the Gobi Desert. The complexity of this task was likened to seeing a human hair clearly from 300 metres away. 
While quantum technology has enormous potential, there are also significant obstacles to overcome before the technology can proliferate. Qubits are considered fragile and highly unstable and can break down when they interact with each other. Equally concerning is the opportunity for hackers to trick a quantum detector simply by shining a bright light at it. Clearly it is still early days for this new technology but I am confident that creative solutions to these problems will be found.
While research into this technology has been conducted around the world for many years, other scientists have often been hampered by red tape and a lack of commitment from their governments. China’s progress in quantum technology is not only the latest demonstration of its elevated scientific stature, it also shows what can be achieved with a dedicated focus on scientific exploration.