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Quantum engineering

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Quantum Engineering is the development of technology that capitalizes on the laws of quantum mechanics.

Introduction

Quantum engineering is quantum mechanics in the hands of engineers who use quantum mechanics as a toolbox for the development of quantum technologies, such as quantum sensor or quantum computers.

There are many devices available which rely on quantum mechanical effects and have revolutionized society through medicine, transoceanic communication, high-speed internet, and high-performance computing, just to mention a few examples. Nowadays, after the first quantum revolution that brought us lasers, MRI imagers and transistors, a second wave of quantum technologies is expected to impact society in a similar way. This second quantum revolution makes use of quantum coherence and capitalizes on the great progress achieved in the last century in understanding and controlling atomic-scale systems. It is expected to help solve many of today’s global challenges and has triggered several initiatives and research programs all over the globe. Previously untapped aspects of quantum physics are now ready to be used as a resource in technologies with far-reaching applications, including quantum sensors[1][2] and novel techniques for biomedical imaging,[3] secure communication networks (quantum internet)[4][5][6] and quantum computing.[7][8][9][10][11]

Education in quantum engineering

Quantum engineering is evolving into its own engineering discipline. The quantum industry requires a quantum-literate workforce, a missing resource at the moment. Currently, scientists in the field of quantum technology have mostly either a physics or engineering background and have acquired their ”quantum engineering skills” by experience. A survey of more than twenty companies aimed to understand the scientific, technical, and “soft” skills required of new hires into the quantum industry. Results show that companies often look for people that are familiar with quantum technologies and simultaneously possess excellent hands-on lab skills[12]

Several technical universities have launched education programs in this domain. For example, ETH Zurich has initiated a Master of Science in Quantum Engineering, a joint venture between the electrical engineering department (D-ITET) and the physics department (D-PHYS). Similar programs are being pursued at Delft University, Technical University of Munich, MIT and other technical universities.

Quantum engineering students learn the foundations of quantum theory and simultaneously acquire the necessary engineering skills to be able to implement, measure and control quantum processes.

On the engineering end, students are trained in signal and information processing, classical information and communication theory, process automation and control theory, optoelectronics and photonics, semiconductor device physics, integrated circuits (bipolar, CMOS) and electronic hardware architectures (VLSI, FPGA, ASIC).

On the physics side, students learn quantum theory and its manifestations in atoms, condensed matter and electromagnetic radiation. Students are exposed to emerging applications such as quantum sensing, quantum communication and cryptography and quantum information processing. They learn the principles of quantum simulation and quantum computing, and become familiar with different quantum processing platforms, such as trapped ions, atoms, superconducting circuits, quantum dots, or photons.

In addition, hands-on laboratory projects help students to develop the technical skills needed for the practical realization of quantum devices and for the implementation of quantum solutions.

References

  1. ^ Degen, C. L.; Reinhard, F.; Cappellaro, P. (2017-07-25). "Quantum sensing". Reviews of Modern Physics. 89 (3): 035002. arXiv:1611.02427. Bibcode:2017RvMP...89c5002D. doi:10.1103/RevModPhys.89.035002. S2CID 2555443.
  2. ^ Boss, J. M.; Cujia, K. S.; Zopes, J.; Degen, C. L. (2017-05-26). "Quantum sensing with arbitrary frequency resolution". Science. 356 (6340): 837–840. arXiv:1706.01754. Bibcode:2017Sci...356..837B. doi:10.1126/science.aam7009. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 28546209. S2CID 33700486.
  3. ^ Moreau, Paul-Antoine; Toninelli, Ermes; Gregory, Thomas; Padgett, Miles J. (2019). "Imaging with quantum states of light". Nature Reviews Physics. 1 (6): 367–380. arXiv:1908.03034. Bibcode:2019NatRP...1..367M. doi:10.1038/s42254-019-0056-0. ISSN 2522-5820. S2CID 189928693.
  4. ^ Liao, Sheng-Kai; Cai, Wen-Qi; Liu, Wei-Yue; Zhang, Liang; Li, Yang; Ren, Ji-Gang; Yin, Juan; Shen, Qi; Cao, Yuan; Li, Zheng-Ping; Li, Feng-Zhi (2017). "Satellite-to-ground quantum key distribution". Nature. 549 (7670): 43–47. arXiv:1707.00542. Bibcode:2017Natur.549...43L. doi:10.1038/nature23655. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 28825707. S2CID 205259539.
  5. ^ Yin, Juan; Li, Yu-Huai; Liao, Sheng-Kai; Yang, Meng; Cao, Yuan; Zhang, Liang; Ren, Ji-Gang; Cai, Wen-Qi; Liu, Wei-Yue; Li, Shuang-Lin; Shu, Rong (2020). "Entanglement-based secure quantum cryptography over 1,120 kilometres". Nature. 582 (7813): 501–505. Bibcode:2020Natur.582..501Y. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2401-y. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 32541968. S2CID 219692094.
  6. ^ Chen, Yu-Ao; Zhang, Qiang; Chen, Teng-Yun; Cai, Wen-Qi; Liao, Sheng-Kai; Zhang, Jun; Chen, Kai; Yin, Juan; Ren, Ji-Gang; Chen, Zhu; Han, Sheng-Long (2021). "An integrated space-to-ground quantum communication network over 4,600 kilometres". Nature. 589 (7841): 214–219. Bibcode:2021Natur.589..214C. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03093-8. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 33408416. S2CID 230812317.
  7. ^ Ladd, T. D.; Jelezko, F.; Laflamme, R.; Nakamura, Y.; Monroe, C.; O’Brien, J. L. (2010). "Quantum computers". Nature. 464 (7285): 45–53. arXiv:1009.2267. Bibcode:2010Natur.464...45L. doi:10.1038/nature08812. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 20203602. S2CID 4367912.
  8. ^ Arute, Frank; Arya, Kunal; Babbush, Ryan; Bacon, Dave; Bardin, Joseph C.; Barends, Rami; Biswas, Rupak; Boixo, Sergio; Brandao, Fernando G. S. L.; Buell, David A.; Burkett, Brian (2019). "Quantum supremacy using a programmable superconducting processor". Nature. 574 (7779): 505–510. arXiv:1910.11333. Bibcode:2019Natur.574..505A. doi:10.1038/s41586-019-1666-5. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 31645734. S2CID 204836822.
  9. ^ Georgescu, Iulia (2020). "Trapped ion quantum computing turns 25". Nature Reviews Physics. 2 (6): 278. Bibcode:2020NatRP...2..278G. doi:10.1038/s42254-020-0189-1. ISSN 2522-5820. S2CID 219505038.
  10. ^ MacQuarrie, Evan R.; Simon, Christoph; Simmons, Stephanie; Maine, Elicia (2020). "The emerging commercial landscape of quantum computing". Nature Reviews Physics. 2 (11): 596–598. Bibcode:2020NatRP...2..596M. doi:10.1038/s42254-020-00247-5. ISSN 2522-5820.
  11. ^ Zhong, Han-Sen; Wang, Hui; Deng, Yu-Hao; Chen, Ming-Cheng; Peng, Li-Chao; Luo, Yi-Han; Qin, Jian; Wu, Dian; Ding, Xing; Hu, Yi; Hu, Peng (2020). "Quantum computational advantage using photons". Science. 370 (6523): 1460–1463. arXiv:2012.01625. Bibcode:2020Sci...370.1460Z. doi:10.1126/science.abe8770 (inactive 2021-05-06). ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 33273064.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of May 2021 (link)
  12. ^ Fox, Michael F. J.; Zwickl, Benjamin M.; Lewandowski, H. J. (2020). "Preparing for the quantum revolution: What is the role of higher education?". Physical Review Physics Education Research. 16 (2): 020131. arXiv:2006.16444. Bibcode:2020PRPER..16b0131F. doi:10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020131. ISSN 2469-9896. S2CID 220266091.
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