Eyes in the Sky: China Launches Satellite QKD Mission

Hey Quantum Enthusiast!

This weekly roundup is all about the latest breakthroughs in quantum technology:

• 🔬 Quantum Computing: Hidden quantum states discovered in twisted materials

• 🔗 Quantum Communications: First-ever measurement of quantum entanglement speed

• 🔐 Post-Quantum Cryptography: NIST selects new encryption standard

If you're interested in staying ahead of the quantum revolution and understanding how these technologies will transform computing, communications, and security, then here are the resources you need to dig into this rapidly evolving field.

Weekly Resources List

1. Quantum Physics Breakthrough: Hidden Exotic States in Twisted Materials (8 min read) Researchers from Japan and the US have discovered hidden quantum states in twisted molybdenum ditelluride using an innovative optical technique, revealing approximately 20 previously unseen quantum states. This breakthrough could lead to more resilient topological quantum computers.

2. Speed of Quantum Entanglement Measured for the First Time (7 min read) Scientists have measured the speed of quantum entanglement for the first time, using attosecond precision. The study challenges the notion that entanglement is instantaneous, with measurements revealing an average time difference of approximately 232 attoseconds for entanglement to occur.

3. China's Jinan-1 Satellite Achieves Long-Distance Quantum Key Distribution (6 min read) Chinese scientists successfully sent quantum-encrypted data over 12,900 kilometers between Beijing and South Africa using a small, cost-efficient satellite. The system achieved real-time key generation, sharing up to 1.07 million bits of secure keys during a single satellite pass.

4. Quantum Network Demonstrated Over Existing Telecom Infrastructure (5 min read) Researchers from Toshiba Europe successfully transmitted secure quantum information across 254 km of commercial fibre-optic cable in Germany, demonstrating that quantum communication can be deployed over long distances using standard telecommunications equipment.

5. NIST Picks HQC as New Post-Quantum Encryption Candidate (8 min read) The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology has selected Hamming Quasi-Cyclic (HQC) as a new post-quantum encryption candidate to serve as a backup encryption method alongside previously selected algorithms, providing cryptographic diversity against quantum threats.

Favourite Tip of the Week

Lastly, here's my favourite tip about quantum technology of the week.

It's from the Quantum Network Demonstration by Toshiba and this completely changed how I thought about implementing quantum security in real-world environments.

Here's a quick breakdown:

Step 1: You don't need to replace existing infrastructure. Toshiba's breakthrough shows that quantum communication can work over standard telecom fiber at room temperature.

Step 2: Focus on coherence preservation. The key innovation was maintaining optical phase coherence over long distances without cryogenic cooling.

Step 3: Think modular and portable. Their system fits into standard data-centre racks, making quantum security practical for businesses today, not just in specialised labs.

Hope this helps!

Other Industry News

Want to stay on the cutting edge?

Here's what else has been happening in Quantum you should know about:

• Quantum Computing Inc. Sells Reservoir Computer to Automotive Manufacturer: According to PR Newswire , QCi has sold one of its EmuCore reservoir computers to a major automotive manufacturer. This is a big deal because it represents one of the first commercial applications of quantum-inspired computing in the automotive industry. Personally, I think this means we'll see more industry adoption of quantum and quantum-inspired technologies for specific applications like time series prediction and image recognition before full-scale quantum computers become mainstream.

• D-Wave Claims Quantum Supremacy with Quantum Annealing: According to PostQuantum.com, D-Wave Quantum Inc. has announced a breakthrough, claiming to achieve quantum computational advantage using its quantum annealing technology on a practical problem. This is a big deal because it demonstrates that specialized quantum approaches like annealing can deliver real-world advantages today. Personally, I think this means the quantum computing landscape will become more diverse, with different quantum technologies finding their own niches rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

• The Enormous Energy Cost of Breaking RSA‑2048: Recent analysis reveals the massive energy requirements for breaking RSA-2048 with a quantum computer, highlighting that even when quantum computers become powerful enough, the energy costs may be prohibitive for all but the most determined attackers. This is a big deal because it adds a practical dimension to quantum threat assessments beyond just theoretical capabilities. Personally, I think this means organizations should prioritize their quantum security efforts based on both the timeline of quantum threats and the practical resources required to mount such attacks.

That's it!

As always, thanks for reading.

Hit reply and let me know what you found most helpful this week - I'd love to hear from you!

See you next Monday.

Phil.