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Ψ in the sky

Nature Physics volume 11, pages 615–617 (2015)Cite this article

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A Correction to this article was published on 03 November 2015

This article has been updated

Quantum technologies, including quantum sensors, quantum communication and quantum metrology, represent a growing industry. Out in space, such technologies can revolutionize the way we communicate and observe our planet.

Most of modern technology — primarily transistors and lasers — is based on our understanding of the quantum rules governing energy levels and electronic transport in conductors and semiconductors. This 'Quantum 1.0' technology relies on many-body quantum effects without the need for control at the single-particle level. We are now on the verge of a Quantum 2.0 revolution, where single-particle control enables us to harness more advanced aspects of quantum mechanics, such as superposition and entanglement. The new quantum technologies include quantum communication, quantum computing, quantum imaging, quantum metrology, quantum sensors and quantum simulation. Extrapolating from the economic impact of Quantum 1.0, expectations are high, driving an estimated global research budget of €1.5 billion with over 7,000 active researchers in this area worldwide. A particular push towards technology is the UK Quantum Technologies Program investment of €370 million over 2014–2019 as a first step in implementing a pioneering Quantum Technologies Strategy (http://go.nature.com/sZafBA).

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Figure 1: With increasing sensitivity, more features contribute to gravity measurements.

Change history

  • 20 October 2015

    In the Commentary 'Ψ in the sky' (Nature Physics 11, 615–617; 2015), the resolution of GOCE in Fig. 1 was misleading. The spatial resolution of GOCE is application specific, and in fact can reach less than 100 km for a recovery error of the geoid of 2 cm. This has now been clarified in the online versions after print 20 October 2015.

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Acknowledgements

K.B., M.H. and Y.S. are members of the UK NQT Hub in Sensors and Metrology and acknowledge funding from EPSRC (within grant EP/M013294/1) and Dstl.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kai Bongs, Michael Holynski and Yeshpal Singh are part of the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK,

    Kai Bongs, Michael Holynski & Yeshpal Singh

  2. Kai Bongs is the chair of the Quantum Matter group and the director of the UK National Quantum Technology Hub in Sensors and Metrology,

    Kai Bongs

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  1. Kai Bongs
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  2. Michael Holynski
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  3. Yeshpal Singh
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Correspondence to Kai Bongs.

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Bongs, K., Holynski, M. & Singh, Y. Ψ in the sky. Nature Phys 11, 615–617 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3427

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