{"id":2258,"date":"2018-07-19T16:00:37","date_gmt":"2018-07-19T15:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sussex.ac.uk\/physics\/iqt\/?p=2258"},"modified":"2020-02-17T09:53:52","modified_gmt":"2020-02-17T09:53:52","slug":"sussex-quantum-physicist-gives-evidence-to-mps-on-future-of-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sussex.ac.uk\/physics\/iqt\/sussex-quantum-physicist-gives-evidence-to-mps-on-future-of-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Sussex quantum physicist gives evidence to MPs on future of technology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Professor Winfried Hensinger, Director of the SussexCentre for Quantum Technologies<\/a> and Head of the Sussex Ion Quantum Technology Group<\/a> appeared before the House of Commons\u2019 Science and Technology Select Committee on 17 July, to give evidence as part of the Committee\u2019s inquiry<\/a> exploring the opportunities and challenges for new quantum technologies. A recording<\/a> of Professor Hensinger\u2019s evidence is available on Parliament\u2019s website and a transcript of the session will be published on the Committee\u2019s web pages<\/a> in due course, alongside written evidence the University has provided to the Committee as part of its inquiry.<\/p>\n

Quantum technologies seek to harness the theories of quantum physics in the development of new cutting-edge applications. This includes the theory that an atom can be in two different places at the same time (known as \u201cquantum superposition\u201d) and the theory that atoms can be linked, so that \u00a0changing one atom can also change another (known as \u201cquantum entanglement\u201d).<\/p>\n

Researchers at the University of Sussex are working on the development of a broad range of quantum technologies, as part of an interdisciplinary approach that brings together expertise from across different academic disciplines.\u00a0 These technologies include \u2018ghost imaging\u2019 that will allow people to look around corners, high precision quantum clocks, quantum networks, a range of quantum sensors (including devices that can monitor brain activity) and the construction of a prototype quantum computer.<\/p>\n

Referring to the development of quantum computers, Professor Hensinger<\/a> told MPs they had the potential to solve certain problems which even the fastest super computers would take \u201cbillions of years\u201d to calculate and presented \u201ctremendous opportunities\u201d to transform our lives.<\/p>\n

Professor Hensinger said; \u201cIt\u2019s very unlikely we understand all the opportunities quantum computers pose, similar to when we first built conventional computers.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the first conventional computers allowed us to break encryption as early as the 1940s, most of the applications of conventional computers have only been developed in the last 30 years.<\/p>\n

Professor Hensinger described to MPs the potential of quantum technology to inspire the next generation of scientists, referring to the positive response young people had given to an innovative walk-in quantum computing installation<\/a> . The University took the installation to London\u2019s Spitalfields Market last year, to educate the public about the quantum computer being developed by Professor Hensinger and his team.<\/p>\n

He also stressed the importance of the National Quantum Technology Programme and its impact in developing ready to market technologies than can capitalise on the UK\u2019s unique expertise. Professor Hensinger summarised some of the achievements of the programme and made suggestions for its continuation.<\/p>\n