Canada awards quantum technology study contract
The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) has awarded $2.7 million contract to the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo to study new quantum technology in order to improve remote sensing methods in the Arctic region, the Canadian DND announced on 12 April.
The contract has been awarded under Canada's All Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) programme, as part of
work to produce innovative solutions for surveillance challenges in Canada’s North, particularly in priority areas of Arctic joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
The new sensing technique – called quantum illumination – will allow radar operators to cut through heavy background noise and isolate objects including stealth aircraft with better accuracy. Practical quantum illumination requires on-demand and rapid emission of photons – single particles of light – in entangled pairs. The project will support the development of these photon pairs, helping this technology to move from the lab to the field.Harjit Sajjan, Canadian Defence Minister, said: ‘Radar is our eye in the sky, especially in the Arctic, which presents unique challenges for a variety of remote sensing methods. Quantum technology is one of the latest innovations in this area and we are proud to partner with the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo toward the further development of this technology in support of the defence of Canada and Canadians.’
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