International Network on Space Quantum Technologies

量子技术有可能通过在安全通信、传感和测量、定位、导航、定时和计算方面实现新的和增强的应用，从而彻底改变社会。大多数研究都集中在发展这些技术在地球上的应用上，比如通过光纤进行量子密钥分发，地面可移动或空中量子传感器，以及量子处理器。然而，通过将量子优势从这个世界带到太空，我们可能开始意识到它们的全部潜力。目前，通过光纤中单个光子的吸收，用于保护通信的量子密钥分配仅限于几百公里，要达到全球规模，需要将量子光源放置在轨道上，在空间真空中运行。配备量子传感器的卫星可以以无与伦比的精度监测地球，这对应对气候变化至关重要。量子增强时钟可以增强下一代全球导航卫星系统（又名GPS），无论你身在何处，都能提供超精确的定时和定位。但建造并将它们送入轨道是一项相当大的挑战，因为有效载荷需要在发射的严酷条件和太空中严酷的辐射、热和真空环境中生存下来。该网络汇集了正在开发空间量子技术的世界专家，共同努力克服这些挑战。它包括学术机构，公共部门研究企业，转化研究组织，小型和大型企业，所有这些都结合了他们互补的知识和经验。但是，太空的高制高点及其覆盖范围并不是将量子技术置于轨道上的唯一优势。最终，我们希望利用量子纠缠将量子设备联网。通过连接分布式量子系统，从量子计算机，量子传感器，量子时钟，甚至使用纠缠的量子望远镜，我们大大提高了它们的功率。通过光纤发送量子信号的困难在于纠缠，因此需要基于空间的量子网络来编织一个跨越全球的量子互联网。量子研究人员和工程师的网络将为量子连接世界的这一重大挑战而努力。

Quantum technologies has the potential to revolutionise society by enabling new and enhanced applications for secure communication, sensing and measurement, positioning, navigation, and timing, and computation. Most of the research has concentrated on developing these technologies to work on the Earth, such as quantum key distribution through optical fibres, ground transportable or aerial quantum sensors, and quantum processors. However, by bringing the quantum advantage off this world and into space, we may begin to realise their full potential. Presently, quantum key distribution for securing communications is limited to a few hundred kilometres by the absorption of single photons in optical fibres, to reach global scale requires placing quantum light sources into orbit to operate in the vacuum of space. Quantum sensor-equipped satellites could monitor the Earth with unrivalled accuracy, vital for the fight against climate change. And quantum enhanced clocks could supercharge the next generation of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (aka GPS) and provide ultra-precise timing and positioning wherever you are. But building and putting them into orbit is a considerable challenge as payloads need to survive the rigours of launch and the harsh radiation, thermal, and vacuum environment in space.This network brings together world experts who are developing space quantum technologies to work together to overcome these challenges. It includes academic institutions, public sector research enterprises, translational research organisations, small and large business, all combining their complementary knowledge and experience. But the high vantage point of space and the coverage it gives are not the only advantages of placing quantum technologies in orbit. Ultimately, we would like to network quantum devices using quantum entanglement. By connecting distributed quantum systems, from quantum computers, quantum sensors, quantum clocks, even quantum telescopes using entanglement, we massively increase their power. The difficulties of sending quantum signals through optical fibres are compounded for entanglement, hence the need for space-based quantum networking to weave a globe spanning quantum internet. The network of quantum researchers and engineers will work towards this grand challenge for a quantum connected world.