The quantum influence and enlightenment of Russia-Ukraine crisis

The Russian Ukrainian crisis continues. Recently, the quantum insider wrote that this crisis will have a chain reaction in the quantum field and bring some enlightenment.

Affect supply chain

The complexity and vulnerability of quantum devices is nearly matched by the complexity and vulnerability of the quantum ecosystem. As other industries contemplate the effects of war and economic sanctions on their own ability to bring products to market at reasonable prices and times, leaders of quantum companies and research institutions must anticipate the ramifications of this now global crisis.

Like other industries, the most obvious affects will be on supply chains that provide everything from raw materials to highly engineered equipment that make up quantum computers and sensors.

One easy example of this is helium, which is integral to the operation of superconducting quantum computers. In recent years, with the increase of market demand in emerging countries, there has been a global shortage of helium. At present, only a few countries in the world such as the United States, Qatar and Russia produce helium, of which the output of the United States accounts for more than 50% of the world. However, in 2021, Gazprom opened three helium production lines in its Amur natural gas processing plant, bringing a capacity of 20 million cubic meters, and the market situation is expected to be reversed. The facility will increase the global helium supply by about 11%.

In short, the helium supply chain will be affected by the Russian Ukrainian crisis.

Endanger talent pool

Russia’s ability to produce talent in physics is underscored by the fact that, since the fall of the Soviet Union, five Russians have received Nobel prizes for their work in physics. Russian physicists’ work — and the ability for that work to reach the outside world — are now significantly hampered.

Ukrainian universities and their faculty and students are acknowledged as some of the world’s best and are a key source of talent for the world’s quantum companies and institutions. The Russian Ukrainian crisis may lead to a large brain drain. In such an industry that requires highly specialized scientific and engineering talents, everyone is the key to promoting quantum science and commercialization. The brain drain and lack of cooperation may lead to the stagnation of quantum science.

Attach great importance to quantum security

If the war in the Ukraine has exposed the vulnerabilities of quantum, the crisis has also surfaced its importance. As high-tech weaponry and the critical use of cyber warfare has been on display, military experts now have a preview of what might happen in the hands of an autocratic regime.

Arthur Herman, senior fellow and director of the Quantum Alliance Initiative at Hudson Institute, told The Quantum Insider via e-mail that cyber-security defense should be on everyone’s mind now. “The looming threat of Russian cyber attacks should make every government agency, every bank and financial institution, and every pipeline and power plant think seriously about how to defend themselves from attack, not just now but in the future,” said Herman. “Russia’s hack into the Colonial Pipeline last year is just a warning shot in a cyber war that could grow very hot if the Ukraine crisis continues to spill over.”

He added that, fortunately, solutions to cyber-attacks and quantum computer-derived attacks are being prepared right now and must be taken seriously.

"Fortunately, we have solutions at hand to deal with the threat, not only the current threat, but also the possibility of large-scale quantum computer attacks that Russia and China are competing to develop in the future. These solutions are anti quantum algorithms and quantum communication networks that are being studied and deployed by many companies in the United States, Canada and Europe," Herman said.

Get rid of traditional dependence on Technology

The conflict is also revealing dependence on less optimal classical technologies, such as current global positioning systems (GPS). For example, satellite-based GPS is often unable to deliver necessary signal strength, remains susceptible to spoofing and lacks certain security features.

“The Ukraine-Russia crisis highlights how dependent we have become on capabilities such as GPS,” said Chester Kennedy, President of Research & Security Solutions, ColdQuanta, via email. “We have quickly seen how these capabilities can be degraded or taken offline during a conflict.”

He added that the conflict is calling attention to quantum approaches that could be both more accurate and more secure. In fact, ColdQuanta is continuing to make considerable advances in helping cut the ties to satellite-based GPS.

“Fortunately, years of research and development has shown how quantum-based solutions can deliver the same level of — or better — positional awareness that GPS provides today,” said Kennedy. “This conflict should jumpstart efforts to strengthen investment in scaling new technologies for operational readiness.”

Link:

https://thequantuminsider.com/2022/03/10/how-will-the-ukraine-russia-crisis-affect-quantum/