Making use of spooky phenomena

This parallelism is the main advantage of a quantum system. It enables a quantum computer to complete certain tasks much faster than its conventional counterpart; for example, factoring a very large number into primes, which is used for encryption technology today. On the other hand, quantum mechanics can be used for a more secure form of data encryption, so-called quantum cryptography. Such devices are already commercially available, said the ETH physicist. ¡°Maybe in a few years they'll be used as standard for data exchange in large companies.¡±

Using quantum phenomena ¨C but how?

Much of what is discovered in quantum science is still basic knowledge, or as Lothar Thiele, Professor of Technical Information at the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, put it: ¡°Physicists want to understand the quantum systems, whereas engineers want to know how they can be used.¡± Although good progress is being made on the physical principles, scientists have not yet fully understood how to put the ¡®spooky phenomena¡¯ of the quantum world to good use. Above all, it will require closer collaboration between various disciplines, not only electrical engineering, physics and mathematics but also biology, as that is where natural quantum systems such as photosynthesis can be found.

ETH alumnus Felix Mayer, co-CEO of Sensirion, emphasised that it will be some time yet before we see quantum-mechanical phenomena used in practice. ¡°Products based on quantum physics aren't imminent at Sensirion.¡± His company, which has been around for 15 years, will continue to rely on classic physics while testing the boundaries to quantum systems if necessary. ¡°No quantum-mechanical application has come along during that time and none is on the horizon. These things often take longer than planned,¡± said Mayer.

ETH professor Andreas Wallraff, head of the Quantum Device Lab, sees quantum information distribution as the most likely area of application and big companies such as IBM are investing large sums in this field. As a possible application, he imagines a medium-sized computer that can perform quantum simulations of smaller molecules, for example.

This quantum computer would be a more evolved version of today¡¯s smaller quantum computer systems, which operate with just a few qubits. However, the question arises as to how a computer running with many qubit elements would be able to process information. The advantages of parallelism could backfire.

Partnerships lead to quantum leaps

In his closing speech, Eichler emphasised that ETH Zurich is already well positioned in the field of quantum science, but the time has now come to make ETH a centre of excellence for quantum engineering. Although a new professorship is currently being established in this area, he believes this will not be enough on its own. ¡°In the past, quantum leaps have been possible thanks to partnerships in particular ¨C this should continue to be the case with quantum science,¡± said Eichler at the end of his final Lokaltermin, which was held jointly with the ETH Zurich Foundation.