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Communication has been an integral part of human life, while technology has played a vital role in enhancing communication. Since the United States launched Telstar, the world's first communication satellite, in 1962, communication has taken a new direction, with satellites playing an increasingly important role in communication, intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance.
Illustration by The Geostrata
Since the launch of the Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE), ISRO's first indigenously constructed communication satellite, India has made significant progress toward the building of its Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) satellite under the National Quantum Mission (NQM) umbrella.
QUANTUM SATELLITE
Quantum satellites are communications satellites that employ the concept of quantum physics to secure their signals, making them highly resistant to interception. It uses quantum key distribution (QKD), as a part of quantum encryption to secure messages, between the allowed parties. It transmits photons, these photons make steam of ones and zeros that are known as qubits.
These qubits can run combinations of 0 and 1 simultaneously unlike traditional binary units, making it fast and efficient. These are further polarised in steam directions to represent quantum information, causing the satellite to generate random but entangled pairs of qubits, yielding secret keys.
This allows two parties to interact, encrypt, and decrypt data via quantum-enabled keys while making the network highly secure.
Furthermore, quantum entanglement guarantees any modification in one particle instantly influences the other, regardless of the distance between them. This is a remarkable, counterintuitive phenomenon whereby two subatomic nuclei remain linked even when separated by billions of light years. While quantum teleportation also operates based on quantum entanglement.
INDIAS QUANTUM SATELLITE DEVELOPMENT
India's National Quantum Mission (NQM) was launched on April 19, 2023, to boost R&D while also developing a vibrant and inventive infrastructure in Quantum Technology. The mission involves inter-city quantum key distribution over 2000 miles of multi-node quantum networks with quantum memories, extended distances secure quantum communications with other countries, and satellite-based secure quantum interaction between ground stations across a 2000-kilometer range in India.
In addition to developing and synthesizing quantum materials, including superconductors, innovative semiconductor architectures, and topological materials for quantum device production.
The National Quantum Mission's main goals will be to construct atomic clocks for accurate time, communication, and navigation, as well as high-sensitivity magnetometers in atomic systems.
It will also help with the Single-photon sources and detectors, as well as entangled photon sources, which will be developed for quantum communications, sensing, and metrology purposes. It uses quantum cryptography (a method of encrypting and transmitting data based on quantum physics), specifically Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), to safeguard data from eavesdropping during transmission making QKD offer "unconditional security" by detecting any interception, ensuring secure communication.
China now maintains the world's largest QKD network, which consists of three quantum satellites and four ground stations. India is expanding its quantum communications research, with ambitions for a satellite-based QKD network. According to studies conducted by the Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru, the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Ladakh, provides optimal circumstances for this system. ISRO has successfully demonstrated free-space quantum interaction over a distance of 300 m.
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The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is working on core development in quantum technologies.
There is an achievement that light positioned ISRO to a level where free-space quantum key distribution was demonstrated over a distance of 300 meters, and the previous demonstration was only done for mobile systems far less than the range, the event was held in March 2021.
This event symbolised that India has managed to perform effectively in the domain of developing quantum secure communication channels.
Apart from this advancement, a recent research contribution has pointed to the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) Hanle located in the Himalayas to be the most optimal place to harness quantum communication-based uplinks within the Indian subcontinent. The higher the level of Hanle, the better and stable atmospheric conditions are available hence there would be lesser chances of light scattering and absorption which ultimately leads to lesser photon loss than that of other observatories making it possible for extending ground to satellite read links.
Global context and sheer race in terms of quantum space, with strategic development and an uptick in quantum communication using satellites precisely puts India in a state where only a few nations are, exploring the dynamics of quantum communication. It is worth noting that in this race China has been leading the charge with the first satellite for quantum communication termed as Micius, which was orbited back in 2016.
Suppose the telemetry configuration is simplified into a few building blocks. In that case, it is evident that Micius has managed to span a long distance for the distribution of quantum key and quantum teleportation, which has set some standards in the field.
India recently took a firm stance in its dedication towards the field of quantum technology be it quantum satellite or quantum satellite technologies. Future hacker-proof communication networks may be built on top of quantum-enabled satellites.
India is aiming forward towards advancing its national security as well as technological development by investing time and money in quantum satellites.
This strategy not only helps India become more powerful but promotes India’s technologies on the international level, especially in the area of communication networks. India has a significant role to play in the field of quantum technologies and its vision of secure communication would be a guiding force for India’s firm standing in these competitive markets.
BY TANISHKA SINGH
TEAM GEOSTRATA
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