Quantum Careers in India

Quantum Technologies are on the rise. Academic as well industrial interest in this field is growing and also promises for a better future. In India, too, the government is showing a positive attitude towards this career field. Considering the activeness of this field, I am presenting an article briefing about the research in India and possible growth opportunities in this field. This article is based on an interview with Dr. Apoorva D Patel, a professor at the Centre for High Energy Physics (CHEP), IISc Bangalore, and information obtained from different reliable sites.

What’s so QUANTUM?

When the mystery of atomic structure was puzzling the scientists, a more puzzling theory came into existence — Quantum Mechanics. This theory brought with it space for many discoveries and inventions, eventually leading to a paradigm shift in Science and Technology. The first quantum revolution brought the information age with itself, development in communication technologies took place, and modern computers came into existence.

Quantum Mechanics gave the idea of even advanced quantum applications, the concept that dates back to Feynman’s times. The complexity of creating a controlled system at levels of qubits posed problems at that time, but after extensive research and efforts by scientists, quantum devices came into existence. From just an idea, nanoscale techniques are now coming alive.

Quantum Computers are being constructed, and here begins the second quantum revolution. By now, at least once, you must have heard about the Quantum Computers or Quantum Technologies or the Quantum Future. These are the innovations that promise a better, more secure, and faster future. It has also attracted hefty investments, and the field is set to prove its worth.

Quantum STEM

Quantum isn’t any more a Physics word. In fact, the ideas from the quantum theory have found immense application in chemistry, computation as well as in biology. The electronics and hardware industry is also going to experience the change. Researchers are also trying to apply bizarre concepts from quantum theory to develop new techniques in finance, health equipment, and also cryptography.

Ranging from explaining electronic structures to chemical dynamics, chemists are extensively using quantum theory. Current developments in NMR and spectroscopy techniques also owe to quantum knowledge. ¹ Quantum computers can model ground and excited state energies of molecules. In addition to classical methods for the computationally intensive part of a model, the quantum model is used for modeling interactions in complex chemical reactions. ²

In biology, too, quantum theory answered many questions, from cellular biology to vision and olfaction impairment. A recent model tries to explain mutations that appear in DNA copying by the phenomenon of quantum tunneling ³; the concept of quantum coherence was found to describe energy transfer in the FMO complex, which is an essential step in the process of photosynthesis.⁴

Intel’s founder Gordon Moore predicted that the power of a computer would double every two years, known as Moore’s Law. It has now been replaced with Neven’s Law, which says quantum computing power is experiencing “doubly exponential growth relative to conventional computing.” ⁸ Companies such as Google, DWave, IBM, Xanadu, and many more have invested heavily in quantum research and have also obtained some success in building cloud-based quantum computer prototypes.

Academic Research and Opportunities

The Quantum Revolution has also attracted the attention of scientists in India. Where the theoretical work is diversified in many institutes, experimental groups are also at a rise. As Dr. Apoorva suggests, applying current knowledge of Quantum Mechanics in sensing and metrology, such as making high precision sensors and basic components, is the first step of quantum expertise that different labs in India have already achieved. The next major step is to master Quantum Simulations and Communication techniques followed by a thorough investigation of Quantum Theory from the feedback of technologies created. The new technology with higher precision will then lead to the development of theoretical sciences. Ultimately, we will enter the Quantum Age with quantum computers existing in reality.

Most experimental research in India is at the second step, developing communication techniques. The QuIC Lab at RRI focuses on the Communication, Computation, Optics, and Information Processing aspects. Using single photons sources, they are investigating interferometry techniques and Quantum optical effects. The lab also specializes in Quantum Key Distribution techniques, long-distance teleportation and is collaborating with ISRO for performing experiments using satellite technology. Such activity has also created many Ph.D. as well as Postdocs research positions for scientists and engineers. ⁵

IISc has taken another leap with its IISc Quantum Technology Initiative. It has established a multi-disciplinary Center for Excellence in Quantum Technology, collaborating with the Raman Research Institute (RRI) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) to deliver quantum-enhanced technologies. Combining engineering with pure science, the group is enhancing fundamental technology with the long-term aims of achieving reliable quantum hardware. ⁶ ⁷

The Quantum Measurement and Control Laboratory (QuMaC) has been established at TIFR to investigate superconducting circuits. Researchers are actively working on Quantum Error Correction Codes, novel qubit designs as well as weak quantum measurements. Extensively funded by TIFR, NM-ICPS, and DST, the lab has already mastered circuits acting as artificials atoms and aims to build and control such quantum systems. ¹³

DRDO is also active in looking for quantum advantages. DRDO’s advanced numerical research and analysis group is working on a quantum communication project hoping to advance cyber security and cryptography. ¹⁴ ¹⁵ Indian government has also launched Quantum Computer Simulator Toolkit (QSim)to enable researchers and students to carry out research in Quantum Computing cost-effectively. Now, IISER Pune, as a quantum hub, will lead the research in quantum technology throughout India. ¹²

Demand in Industry

Quantum devices have already found promising applications in the Pharma industry and medical sciences. Quantum Sensors can easily replace electronic sensors; new imaging techniques and analysis methods can lead to faster diagnosis and precise medicinal treatment for each individual. Quantum Algorithms are also expected to enhance risk analysis while optimizing healthcare insurance pricing for the general good. ⁸ Additionally, a new form of healing known as Quantum Medicine is also proposed. It uses quantum dots to track cell migration, detect intracellular events and also map tissues. With advancements in nanotechnology, using waves to treat ourselves wouldn’t be the next century idea anymore. ¹¹

The ever-increasing dependence on computers is rising, especially in the finance sector, where online transactions are rapidly increasing. High confidentiality and security have led governments and the banking sector to use quantum key distribution methods.

The high speeds of upcoming computers have also challenged the current encryption system and thus huge investments have been made by different countries to develop this technology. In 2017, University of Vienna and University of Science and Technology of China have demonstrated intercontinental quantum communication through videoconference whose security was guaranteed by quantum cryptography.[10] According to a BCC report, the global quantum cryptography market should reach $1.3 billion by 2024 from $347.2 million in 2019.

Very recently, IBM has claimed to design a quantum computing chip that can outperform classical computers with the power of 127 qubits. D-Wave(company) has been successful in delivering quantum hybrid solutions to leading businesses such as Volkswagen, Toyota and a Canadian grocery retailer, ‘Save-On Foods’ showing a successful beginning. There are many startups in India too such as BosonQ, QpiAi, etc. which are providing educational courses for quantum developments in collaboration with national institutes while also providing research opportunities to students.

India is currently lacking in applying such technologies. The Indian market is yet not extended to accommodate the new sector though a few startups have already been set up. To boost up the sector, the Indian government in 2020 has given quantum technology 8000 crore rupees as part of its National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications. In 2020, the union budget allotted 8000 crore rupees under the National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications. Additionally, 3660 crore rupees have been spent in establishing National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical System(NM-ICPS) along with establishment of 4 quantum parks and 21 quantum hubs across the country. ¹²

Challenges

India is still lacking a lot compared to its developed counterparts. While theoretical research and collaborations with foreign institutes are getting better, experimentalists are still required to buy essential equipment from other countries. Dr. Patel stretches on the requirement of a good infrastructure for sustainable research in the field.

Until India is capable of making every single and basic instrument required for quantum technology, it will be hard for India to gain expertise in the long term especially in the commercial sector, he intensifies. Scientists throughout the world believe in the Quantum Future, to keep itself in the running, India needs serious efforts and government planning towards the goal.

For a faster pace development of quantum research in India, government and industry support is very much wanted. Funding from the government for the setup of joint collaborations is also much needed. Dr. Patel also suggested fundings for student exchange programs so that young Indian researchers can get the experience of highly developed technologies in other countries,

Application of the upcoming quantum tech also demands startups and entrepreneurs which will be possible only with ardent support and financing by the existing industries. Startups promoting quantum knowledge are already set up, but the focus on hardware is still low. Manufacturing of basic components for larger technologies is itself the requirement of the Indian Research Market.

“If you want to go into this field, you need to be adventurous”, remarks Dr. Patel, just as in any other research field, a career in quantum technologies is also filled with risk. There is continuous competition with advancing classical establishments, there is no guarantee of Success, and it doesn’t ensure a lavish lifestyle with huge money. It’s the satisfaction of the work that keeps a scientist immersed and the same applies here too. We can together wish India to soon achieve quantum supremacy in this second quantum revolution.

References:

1. Quantum chemistry — Wikipedia
2. How Quantum Computing Could Remake Chemistry — Scientific American
3. Slocombe, L.; Al-Khalili, J. S.; Sacchi, M. (2021–02–25). “Quantum and classical effects in DNA point mutations: Watson–Crick tautomerism in AT and GC base pairs.” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. 23 (7): 4141–4150. doi:10.1039/D0CP05781A
4. Engel GS, Calhoun TR, Read EL, Ahn T K, Mancal T, Cheng YC, et al. (2007). “Evidence for wavelike energy transfer through quantum coherence in photosynthetic systems.” Nature. 446 (7137): 782–6.
5. QuIC Lab (rri.res.in)
6. https://iqti.iisc.ac.in
7. Interview
8. https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/8QDGKDZJ
9. We Need to Replace Moore’s Law to Make Way For Quantum Computers, But What’s Next? (sciencealert.com)
10. Beijing and Vienna have a quantum conversation — Physics World
11. Quantum Medicine: A Return to Our self (hhmglobal.com)
12. https://www.psa.gov.in/technology-frontiers/quantum-technologies/346
13. https://www.tifr.res.in/~quantro/index.html
14. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/drdo-chief-hints-at-national-panel-for-collaborative-effort-in-quantum-tech/articleshow/72339651.cms
15. https://thewire.in/science/isro-space-secure-quantum-communications