20 million dollars! U.S. Air Force Launches New Quantum Technology Program Solicitation
Recently, the Information Directorate of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, N.Y., issued a Request for Proposal [1] for a Broad Agency on Quantum Information Services Program that calls for industry to develop new quantum computing algorithm software for machine automation and machine learning in future command, control, communications, and intelligence systems.
Specifically, U.S. Air Force researchers want companies to submit white papers for research, design, development, concept testing, experimentation, integration, evaluation, and technology delivery in support of Air Force command and control research [2]. Seeking to leverage quantum mechanics to achieve huge leaps in processor performance to solve particularly difficult problems.
The project has five focus areas.
Quantum algorithms and computing.
Quantum information processing.
Memory node based quantum networks.
Superconducting hybrid quantum platforms.
Quantum information science.
1)Quantum Algorithms and Computation aims to develop quantum software algorithms for today's computers, including noise-containing intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) computers and quantum annealing and adiabatic quantum computers. Today, the US Air Force Laboratory is interested in protocols and algorithms for machine learning, neural networks, optimization, quantum walks, unstructured search, decision and risk analysis, hybrid classical and quantum algorithms, efficient quantum gate and circuit decomposition and characterization, quantum photonic integrated waveguide chips, superconducting quantum bits, and trapped ion platforms.
2)Quantum information processing involves entanglement distribution, quantum information processing, and local and distributed quantum computing. The program will emphasize photon-based quantum bits, including quantum integrated photonic circuits, photon-based interactions between quantum bits, and other quantum bit technologies. Other concerns include quantum repeaters, high-dimensional entanglement, efficient generation and measurement of quantum states, characterization and discrimination of quantum channels, and measurement-based quantum computing.
3)Memory-node-based quantum networks include quantum networks, quantum communications, and quantum information processing, with emphasis on capturing ion quantum bits, superconducting quantum bits, integrated circuit-based quantum bits, and entanglement distribution.
Focus areas include multi-node network connectivity, quantum transmission across frequency bands, interfaces to heterogeneous quantum bit technologies, quantum information mapping between homogeneous and heterogeneous quantum bit technologies, entanglement distribution, entanglement verification and validation, ultra-high vacuum technologies, dilution chiller technologies, laser development and laser control, and interfaces to different platforms.
4)The superconducting hybrid quantum platform focuses on the development of new quantum devices, new functionalities, and exploration of fundamental quantum network physics, with emphasis on hybrid superconducting systems.
Highlights include trans-quantum techniques for interfacing superconducting quantum bits and circuits with ion trap systems, integrated photonic circuits, and electromechanical and optoelectromechanical systems; quantum and classical microwave-optical interfaces; development of three-dimensional integrated heterogeneous quantum architectures; chip-level cooling; and quantum interfaces across large temperature gradients.
5)Quantum Information Science focuses on quantum communications, quantum networks, and quantum computing, with an emphasis on quantum bit technologies, quantum protocols for networks and computing, and enabling technologies.
Funding for this project will be approximately $20 million over the next two years.
[1]https://sam.gov/opp/afdb23099e5b4275b211e72f6cef0861/view
