Basing the quantum revolution: article by Prof. Guilherme Penello Temporão published in the journal Nature Physics
In an article published in Nature Physics, members of the Technical Committee in Quantum Metrology of the International Confederation of Measures (IMEKO) – among which Prof. Guilherme Temporão of the Center for Telecommunications Studies (CETUC) and the Graduate Program in Metrology (PósMQI) of PUC-Rio – explore the critical role of the National Institutes of Metrology (INMs) in the quantum revolution.
You may have heard of how quantum physics is causing an imminent revolution in science and technology, and its potential to make quantum computing and unbreakable cryptography possible. This new quantum age is grounded by metrology, the science of measurement.
Quantum effects are inherent in the international system of units, the IS. The INMs – including the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology of Brazil, INMETRO – are responsible for the implementation of the Is, which requires them the maximum mastery of quantum control. Based on this expertise, INMs play a key role in the evolution of quantum technologies, from the development of new devices for generating and detecting how much individual as in improving the understanding of new materials, such as graphene.
With the quantum revolution underway, the need for standardization, testing and independent evaluations of these new technologies is critical. It is up to the INMs to provide this support that allows responsible innovation and industrialization. From established technologies such as random number generation to less mature technologies such as quantum computing, its developments are supported by metrology and the impartial assessments and checks it provides. This expertise and impartiality are necessary to write the rules – that is, the standards – to be followed by new technologies. In a virtuous cycle, we will be prepared to explore new quantum technologies for the benefit of metrology itself, which in turn will bring benefits to society as a whole.