China builds world's largest quantum facility

The world's largest quantum facility will develop technologies that will make communication with submarines easier, increase stealth and possibly break encrypted messages.

China is building the world's largest quantum research facility to develop quantum computers and "revolutionary" technologies that could be applied to the military, SCMP quoted scientists and authorities involved in the project as saying.

The National Laboratory for Quantum Information Science is located on a 37-hectare site next to a small lake in Hefei, Anhui Province. Bidding for the project will begin this month, according to the Hefei Evening News.

Pan Jianwei, China's top quantum scientist who plays a key role in the project, told local officials that the technologies developed at the facility would have immediate military applications.

Perspective of China's world's largest quantum research facility.

Quantum technology brings many breakthrough applications in military technology, especially for submarines. Using quantum information systems can help submarines operate continuously underwater for more than 3 months without having to surface to locate satellite signals.

In addition, the lab’s main task is to build China’s first quantum computer that can break encrypted messages in just a few seconds. “Our plan is to achieve quantum power by 2020, or maybe next year,” Mr. Pan said.

Construction of the facility could take about two years and cost an estimated 76 billion yuan (about $11.7 billion). Guo Guoping, a quantum information researcher, said a large centralized research facility could help speed up the process by attracting talented scientists from across the country.

China has made great strides in quantum technology in recent times. In 2016, Beijing launched the world's first quantum satellite and tested space teleportation technology.

Last month, a quantum communications network said to be “ultra-secure” connecting Beijing and Shanghai was successfully tested and is ready for official deployment to the military, government and financial sectors.

According to Zing