2016年CRI China to launch first quantum communication satellite

 

Quantum communication boasts ultra-high security as a quantum photon can neither be separated nor duplicated. It is hence impossible to wiretap, intercept¹ or crack the information transmitted through it.

Anton Zeilinger, an Austrian physicist² at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, says that the upcoming experiment is of great significance as it is related to long-distance data transmission and communication, which will form a future quantum internet safer and faster than the current one.

"Well this satellite will be the first one worldwide, which tests this new technology, and I'm sure we will learn a lot about how the data rates are, how the quality of the data is, how the messages can really be sent and things like that. You know, there has been quantum communication tested on the ground, but this is the first experiment in space, which will allow us to cover larger distances than you can do on ground. It is the very first experiment of this kind, so this is really a pioneering project."

The project includes the launch of a satellite and the building of four ground stations for quantum communication and one space quantum teleportation experiment station. Upon completion, the satellite will be able to establish quantum optical links simultaneously³ with two ground bases thousands of kilometers apart.

Shanghai Control Center for Quantum Secure Communications has been running test operations in coordination⁴ with five other sub-control centers in Beijing, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous⁵ Region, Qinghai Province, Yunnan Province and Tibet Autonomous Region.

Researcher Zhang Wenzhuo explains how the centers work together.

"The sub-control centers are like the limbs of a person, and the main control center is like the brain. So the brain sends directions to the limbs, and the limbs respond by doing a series of movements. In the experiment, the satellite transmits data to the earth, and the main control center would collect and analyze⁶ the data before giving orders to sub-control centers about what to do next."

Professor Zeilinger and his team will work at a telescope observatory⁷ in Vienna when the satellite is launched, in coordination with their Chinese counterparts to observe and track the satellite.

However according to him, the Chinese researchers are still facing some challenges.

"The challenges are to make sure that the equipment works up there. You cannot go there and fix it. You know it has to be working all the time. There are some challenges maybe due to cosmic background radiation. The main challenge is to really be able to communicate all the time. This telescope will have to follow very precisely⁸ the satellite; the satellite has a telescope which sends down the photons precisely. To have all this work is not simple."

Quantum communication has been listed as a prioritized area in the country's five-year plan for technological⁹ innovation from 2016 to 2020.

The plan also made it clear that both basic and cutting-edge scientific research will be strengthened, with better facilities, new national research bases, more innovative¹⁰ researchers and improved global cooperation.

For CRI, I'm Niu Honglin.

1 intercept   

vt.拦截，截住，截击

参考例句：

• His letter was intercepted by the Secret Service.他的信被特工处截获了。
• Gunmen intercepted him on his way to the airport.持枪歹徒在他去机场的路上截击了他。

2 physicist   

n.物理学家，研究物理学的人

参考例句：

• He is a physicist of the first rank.他是一流的物理学家。
• The successful physicist never puts on airs.这位卓有成就的物理学家从不摆架子。

3 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

4 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

5 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

6 analyze   

vt.分析，解析 (=analyse)

参考例句：

• We should analyze the cause and effect of this event.我们应该分析这场事变的因果。
• The teacher tried to analyze the cause of our failure.老师设法分析我们失败的原因。

7 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

8 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

9 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

10 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。