Quantum information science continues to advance with federal efforts

Quantum information science is a new discipline of science and technology marshalling the application of quantum physics to computing. Its objective is to build new computers and communication devices based on quantum properties and promises to open new, significant opportunities across multiple fields, as well as bring disruption in numerous industries.

For example, quantum information science — also referred to as QIS — has the potential to enable extremely secure encrypted communication.

As for quantum computing, it uses qubits, which can exist at intermediate values instead of using bits with the value of 1 or 0, as used in classical computers. In theory, this difference would enable quantum computers to be exponentially more powerful at solving certain problems in real time, such as factoring very large numbers.

Today, researchers are still trying to imagine the range of possibilities that quantum information science will enable. “Just as was the case in the early days of past developments such as the laser and microelectronics, though, we should keep in mind that while we have clear ideas of some of the benefits that quantum computing, and quantum information science more generally, will bring, it is almost certain there are many applications that are as yet unknown, but which will significantly affect our lives,” a U.S. Department of Energy official said in a prepared statement for this story.

Although quantum is still in its infancy, experts said they expect it to have dramatic impacts in multiple areas from drug discovery — where, for example, it could be used for molecular modeling — to nanotechnology and space exploration.

Experts said they also expect it to be highly disruptive in cybersecurity, where it can be useful in creating new quantum encryption methods but also where quantum computing could be used to break through current encryption technologies and make some of the existing cybersecurity defenses obsolete.

“It’s going to have its biggest impact when you have a complex system consisting of a lot of different parts that mutually with each other. These are the kinds of problems that classical computers really have to struggle to solve,” added Denise Caldwell, director of the Division of Physics at the National Science Foundation.