Over the years, quantum technology has been researched in advanced countries worldwide, including Thailand which is now speeding up its research to enable wider impacts for future generations.
Quantum is a word rooted in the Latin word “quantus” which means “an amount” or “quantity” in English.
Quantum technology takes quantum physics as its core concept and makes use of pure quantum characters such as quantum superposition and quantum tunnelling in metrology, computing, simulation, encryption and communication, resulting in unprecedented accuracy and efficiency compared to present technologies.
Quantum technology comprises four branches; 1. Quantum computing 2. Quantum simulation 3. Quantum communication and 4. Quantum metrology and sensing.
Quantum technology is created from knowledge gained from the study of nature with quantum physics, enabling us to more deeply understand nature and see how it has developed into technological products that can contribute various benefits to mankind.
“Technologies we are using today stem from the results of the first generation of quantum technology using quantum physics to study and explain states or characters of matter and waves,” said Dr. Sivinee Sawatdiaree, Head of Electrical Metrology Department, National Institute of Metrology (Thailand) (NIMT). “This allows us to better understand nature and surrounding things such as liquids and gasses, metals, conductors and insulators, and enable us to discover new states of matter such as superconductors and superfluids which would not exist or be understood without quantum physics. When we truly understand their behaviour and character, we can use them to create equipment such as transistors, household appliances, lasers, computers, telephones, X-ray machines, chemicals, nano products and many more.”
Quantum technology in the first era (1st gen quantum) was developed since the early 20th century into technologies we are using today. It is the fundamental basis for development of electronics, information and telecommunication industries which have led to creation of various tools that make our life easier, including computers, smartphones and medical equipment.
Quantum technology in the new era (2nd gen quantum) is created from knowledge of quantum physics topped with new and advanced engineering processes, thanks to the development of quantum technology in the first era that allows better access and control of atoms and photons (a quantum term for light) and use them to create quantum technology in the new era which can measure, calculate, process and transmit and store data more accurately, quickly and safely.
Regarding 2nd gen quantum technology, Dr. Sivinee explained that, “We begin to be able to control individual atoms or individual photons and can move them from one state to another. From over six years of research, NIMT in collaboration with partners came up with homegrown technologies to control individual atoms of Ytterbium which is the most important part of a project to build the Optical Atomic Clock in Thailand. The optical atomic clock project is a part of a major research programme known as ‘Establishment of Integrated Ecosystem for Quantum Technology Research in Thailand’, sponsored by PMU-B.”
“The programme which includes five teams from universities and research institutes across the country, is now entering an important period. Each team, responsible for each aforementioned branches of quantum technology, has successfully established core strengths and tools to perform state-of-the-art experiments.”
There are two teams working in Quantum metrology and sensing. NIMT team mainly works on quantum metrology research including development of a quantum-based measurement standards to prepare and respond to ever growing demand for higher accuracy and reproducibility measurements. The team working on quantum sensing is led by Suranaree University of Technology. The team led by Prince Songkla University takes responsibility for quantum communication research. The team led by Chulalongkorn University is researching theoretical quantum computing with another team led by Chiang Mai University researching experimental quantum simulation.
“This research community is young and growing. In the foreseeable future, the community will welcome more members and more teams to join in to push forward Thailand’s quantum technology research to higher levels,” Dr. Sivinee said.
Through the “Optical Atomic Clock” research, the NIMT team has succeeded in designing and building innovative techniques and new technologies. These by-products can be used in other quantum technology research and in metrology. NIMT, as the top national authority in measurement science, has a particular role to play in realising national economic strategies. NIMT will utilise the innovative by-products and main research results to make available measurement capabilities and tools required for industrial production and commercialization of high technology products and future technology products made in Thailand.
“In analysing features of quantum technology products it is essential to have quantum measuring standard,” Dr. Sivinee said.
NIMT is presently working on three major quantum-based metrology projects, including Optical Atomic Clock, Quantum Impedance Bridge and Kibble Balance, in cooperation with world famous national metrology institutes and quantum technology research institutes such as National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Japan, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), Republic of Korea, Centre for Quantum Technology (CQT), Singapore, Czech Metrology Institute (CMI), Czech Republic, and Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany, for many years. Despite obstacles caused by Covid-19, researchers at both institutes are working closely on the projects.
Thailand’s optical atomic clock is based on Ytterbium-171 ion; Yb-171. Choosing to work on one particular atom required systematic examination. Yb has energy levels similar to that of Caesium but is more stable than Caesium which is used to define the unit of time (second). Trapped atoms or ions are the heart of any atomic clock. Thus, trapped Yb-171 ions are considered the heart of NIMT’s Optical Atomic Clock. It took the research team six years to reach this milestone in capturing the Yb-171 ions with a trap designed and made in NIMT in consultation with CQT. The next milestone is to measure the frequency of the optical atomic clocks of both organisations through high-resolution coordinating networks and a base station network receiving signals from the international navigation satellite system. The goal is to have a frequency at the accuracy level required by international resolutions to participate in the determination of the world’s new second unit by 2026.
The project has already brought various benefits to Thailand, including leading to the creation of the country’s vital fundamental structure in terms of time and frequency and enables Thailand to realise and utilise new technologies and industry sectors integral to the next era such as 5G technology and networks, financial technology, mapping systems in Thailand, among many others.
“This project is giving us greater stability of time measurement,” continues Dr. Sivinee. “It will be at least 10,000 times more accurate than ever before. Scientists have spent six years researching, designing and creating tools used to catch, trap and control atoms to create new technology devices, including quantum computers. With more stable atoms, we expect to finish creating the Optical Atomic Clock with high accurate frequency within 2024. In 2025, we plan to work mainly on improvements of the frequency accuracy to the required level and submit our results to the international time governing body by the end of the year.”
Quantum technology has been developed at a fast pace and is tipped to change the world and create momentum that leads to economic, industrial and social development. Countries with economic advancement and leading technological companies around the world are focused on the importance of investing in research into quantum technologies with the aim of being an owner of it or at least able to use it as soon as possible to create competitive advantage and leverage business opportunities.
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