Quantum technology, another move by the US military
Today, the U.S. military took two important actions in the area of quantum technology. The US Department of State's Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance (AVC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Maryland's Quantum Technology Center (QTC) to establish a public-private partnership[1]. At the same time, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) launched a new call for projects - Imagining the Future of Quantum for Practical Applications (IMPAQT) [2].
01Public-Private Collaboration
In collaboration with the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, the University of Maryland QTC will provide the department with technical information and input on the latest developments in quantum technology and related enabling technologies. Discussions and networking with other U.S. government and industry partners on this emerging technology will also be facilitated.
The announcement notes that the State Department plays a key role in advancing U.S. national and economic security interests in critical and emerging technologies. As noted in the National Security Strategy, technology is at the heart of today's geopolitical competition, and critical and emerging technologies will reshape the economy, the military and the world. To meet this challenge, the sector will need to understand the convergence of quantum technology with other emerging technologies and anticipate the global implications of the development and application of this technology. This partnership will ensure that the department's international initiatives are informed by a sound technical understanding of this emerging field.
As a key component of the US Department of State, the AVC oversees the implementation of certain international arms control agreements and other measures against weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. It also helps to advance missile defence and space policy in support of national security objectives.
02Call for Projects
According to a DARPA announcement, the Advanced Research Concept (ARC) opportunity for the Imagining Applications of the Quantum Future (IMPAQT) project is interested in novel applications and algorithms that can use practical quantum platforms IMPAQT seeks to connect quantum computing researchers with application domain experts working on classical platforms to solve their target problems. Potential winning bidders are expected to use existing cloud-based quantum processor resources to validate their algorithms. The agency will award a contract to the selected bidder, requiring the successful bidder to complete the work within 12 months.DARPA will accept proposals until June 5, 2022.
The announcement notes that under the DARPA ONISQ program, researchers have recently demonstrated a system with a product of quantum bits (q) and circuit depth (N) > 2000, and are currently developing a system with q*N > 10000. In noise-containing NISQ systems, hybrid classical/quantum algorithms have demonstrated radically different behaviour compared to purely classical systems when applied to computationally complex problems.
Although these preliminary results have only been realised on a small subset of test problems, DARPA is interested in further exploring the capabilities of hybrid quantum/classical computing systems. Therefore, IMPAQT is soliciting ideas to explore the following questions: What are the applications of quantum systems with N*q>10000 as co-processors for classical computing systems?
MPAQT will explore new algorithms and applications that can take advantage of practical quantum systems expected to be demonstrated in the next few years. IMPAQT will connect previously completely different communities; specifically, IMPAQT proposals should connect quantum computing (QC) researchers with application domain experts working on state-of-the-art classical solutions.
The winning MPAQT bidder will define
A method for exploiting quantum systems with N*q equal to or greater than 10000 in a hybrid quantum/classical computing system.
A problem or class of problems to be solved and how the proposed quantum/classical computer application can solve it.
The computational model of the quantum algorithm or operation.
The need for supporting classical resources.
DARPA requires that, if possible, the successful bidder will use cloud-based quantum processor resources to validate their algorithm or application. If not available, the successful bidder should quantify the quantum processor resources needed to effectively test their approach.
03Quantum technology has great potential in the military
Looking back at the development of human science and technology, any frontier technology will be the first to be applied in the military defence sector, and quantum technology is no exception. Countries, including the United States, have recognised this. In May last year, the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) published a report entitled 'Defense Primer: Quantum Technology', which identified the three most promising quantum technology applications for the Department of Defence as quantum sensing, quantum computing and quantum communications.
For more information on how quantum technology can enable the military defence sector, we recommend reading the Photon Box article "Why the defence sector is focusing so much on quantum technology". Understanding the specific applications of quantum sensing, quantum computing and quantum communication in the military will naturally answer the question of why national militaries place such importance on quantum technology.
Reference links：
[1]https://www.state.gov/university-of-maryland-college-park-and-united-states-department-of-state-will-collaborate-to-build-capacity-in-the-area-of-quantum-technology/
[2]https://sam.gov/opp/1171f7f5473447208fd82e7cf216a11c/view
