Quantum is Coming: How Does it Change the Game for Space Systems and Networks?

Frank, Joe, the first thing I want to do is I want to define the terms here.

and the scope of what we're going to be talking about today, because we use terms like quantum.

You're hearing it like it's a brand new thing.

And for those like me who don't understand this technology completely, can you provide a brief overview of the history of when we say quantum technology in the space industry and what we're referring to specifically when we're saying quantum computing? Who wants to take a first stab at that? Joe? I'll try that.

So

quantum literally means chunk.

It's all it means.

It means that the information that you get comes in chunks instead of as a continuous thing.

So if you think of integers, those are quantum.

If you think of real numbers, those are continuous.

The quantum properties started off being understood by Einstein with his first papers on Brownian motion and on the photovoltaic effect in particular.

So that's how far back it goes.

Every time you use a laser, every time you see an LED, every time you use a transistor or a computer, that's all using quantum technologies.

So the idea that things have discrete power levels or energy levels in them and things jump between them, that's how we make lasers, that's quantum.

Now, there's two kinds of quantum that people break things into, quantum 1.0, which is the one that we've understood for over 100 years, and quantum 2.0, which is the spooky action at a distance, Schrodinger's cat, all the stuff that sounds like magic if you explain it right.

That's the stuff that is quantum 2.0. Quantum computing relies on 2.0 technology.

Quantum 1.0 is what makes your LEDs turn green instead of red or everything else that we know, fluorescent lights, things like that.

What we hope is that we can do things with quantum technologies that we can't do with conventional technologies.

And that is a very important distinction.

One of the very short ways I explain this to people is quantum computers are like starships.

They're really good for going to another planet in another galaxy, and they're crap for going to Target.

Okay? It's just not going to get you around the corner to pick up groceries.

You need a Corolla for that.

And just like the starships that you see on TV, you know, and in the movies, often need a shuttle.

Or a Land Rover, when they get there, quantum computers can't exist without classical ones.

Frank, Joe, the first thing I want to do is I want to define the terms here.

and the scope of what we're going to be talking about today, because we use terms like quantum.

You're hearing it like it's a brand new thing.

And for those like me who don't understand this technology completely, can you provide a brief overview of the history of when we say quantum technology in the space industry and what we're referring to specifically when we're saying quantum computing? Who wants to take a first stab at that? Joe? I'll try that.

So

quantum literally means chunk.

It's all it means.

It means that the information that you get comes in chunks instead of as a continuous thing.

So if you think of integers, those are quantum.

If you think of real numbers, those are continuous.

The quantum properties started off being understood by Einstein with his first papers on Brownian motion and on the photovoltaic effect in particular.

So that's how far back it goes.

Every time you use a laser, every time you see an LED, every time you use a transistor or a computer, that's all using quantum technologies.

So the idea that things have discrete power levels or energy levels in them and things jump between them, that's how we make lasers, that's quantum.

Now, there's two kinds of quantum that people break things into, quantum 1.0, which is the one that we've understood for over 100 years, and quantum 2.0, which is the spooky action at a distance, Schrodinger's cat, all the stuff that sounds like magic if you explain it right.

That's the stuff that is quantum 2.0. Quantum computing relies on 2.0 technology.

Quantum 1.0 is what makes your LEDs turn green instead of red or everything else that we know, fluorescent lights, things like that.

What we hope is that we can do things with quantum technologies that we can't do with conventional technologies.

And that is a very important distinction.

One of the very short ways I explain this to people is quantum computers are like starships.

They're really good for going to another planet in another galaxy, and they're crap for going to Target.

Okay? It's just not going to get you around the corner to pick up groceries.

You need a Corolla for that.

And just like the starships that you see on TV, you know, and in the movies, often need a shuttle.

Or a Land Rover, when they get there, quantum computers can't exist without classical ones.