Advantages of the National Quantum Mission
- In quantum physics, there are special qualities that can be used by certain types of matter and systems.
- They are able to do things that older technologies can’t.
- The term “quantum materials” was first used to describe some of the strangest quantum systems, such as
- different kinds of superconductors
- The heavy-fermion method
- oxides with more than one use.
- It has grown into a strong idea that brings together many different areas of science and tech, such as
- Physics of solid states
- Cold atoms are atoms that have been cooled below absolute zero, which shows their quantum mechanical features.
- Science of materials
- Using quantum computing.
- These days, quantum materials research includes traditional semiconductors, superconductors, and non-linear optical crystals that are used in communication, computers, and sensing.
- It includes elements that are made up of atoms and charges interacting in complicated ways.
- In the geometric phase of the quantum wave functions, the results are one of a kind.
- What the materials are made of are the “hidden” parts of quantum physics, like quantum entanglement.
The quantum world:
- The idea of “quantum devices” came about as researchers worked on new ways to build structures that include quantum materials in useful pieces.
- New types of ultrafast transistors, optoelectronics parts, and non-volatile memory and sensing devices are making it possible for quantum uses to happen.
Why we need a quantum mission:
- A big focus on quantum materials and devices is an important part of any plan to use quantum technology.
- Experts in materials play a big part in the early stages of creation, coming up with new or better ways to make things precisely, producing large amounts, and keeping their performance stable.
- It will take research to create new semiconductor nanoparticles for the high-brightness source of entangled photons, low-loss materials for superconducting quantum electronics that keep quantum information for a long time, and a lot more.
It will make it easier to get the materials and tools needed for the mission’s main quantum technology areas:
- Getting India’s diverse and geographically spread out material workforce to work together to complete the goal
- as little repetition and duplication as possible while still making good use of resources.
- The National Quantum Mission’s quantum materials and gadgets part will bring new ideas in the field under one roof.
- It will take a project-based, cross-disciplinary approach and come up with plans as well as an in-house research and development scheme to take quantum technology in India to a higher level by:
- important findings
- imagination in engineering
- Entrepreneurial projects.
How can the goals be met?
- It will be necessary to use the country’s growing scientific machinery and make sure it fits with some of the country’s most important laws.
Building up skills over the past 20 years through government programmes:
- Like the Nano Mission
- Between 2011 and 2019, the number of study papers published in this area went up five times.
- A lot of organisations have information and tools, such as great facilities for working with semiconductors. They could be used.
- With help from the National Supercomputing Mission and other nearby computer centres, there is a strong group of people who are good at material modelling and computing.
- Material innovation in the quantum field will give the manufacturing-based startup environment a boost.
- The government could help these kinds of actions through the Startup India programme and other plans.
- At the moment, about 12% of startups are tied to deep tech.
- It’s almost 35 times more than it was in 2016 and 2019.
- But less than 3% of these have to do with materials and/or production.
- Innovations based on materials and devices will lead to the start of new businesses that make supporting tools.
- There are a lot of high-end specialised devices that India buys right now, like semiconductor-based single-photon detectors.
- We don’t have enough machinery to support the whole process, from figuring out the proof-of-concept to making prototypes that work.
- It is also a problem that the country’s R&D group is not big enough.
- India had 253 full-time researchers for every million people in the country in 2018.
- About 11% of the number of researchers in Italy.
- The workforce is spread out across the country, and plans will be needed to bring together the efforts of human resources that are geographically and demographically spread out.
Way Forward:
- A lot of the materials study for the National Quantum mission will have to be done in goal-oriented multi-institutional consortia.
- To make sure the mission’s deadlines are met, it will need smart hiring of new people, cooperation between multiple institutions that works well, and political will to loosen bureaucratic rules and stop delays in building infrastructure.
- In quantum technologies, the material/device problem is unique because it often needs to be able to control the quantum state of an electron or atom as well as the states of bulk three-dimensional systems with billions of atoms.
- India needs to set up a well-balanced R&D environment where material research for short-term goals and uses can live alongside and work with research with longer-term and more fundamental goals.
- In the end, this will help good results be seen right away, carefully described, engineered, and used.
- It is still early days in all areas of quantum technology, including computers, communications, and sensing.
- There is a chance that with smart management and timely investments
- India could become a world leader in this area.
