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IEEE International Carnahan Conference on Security Technology (ICCST)

Quantum Radar: Snake Oil or Good Idea?

Bhashyam Balaji

Published Oct 1, 2018• 14 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum radar has been proposed in the quantum information science literature as a novel approach to sensing that can offer a substantial gain over existing, classical sensors. In particular, a quantum radar based on quantum entanglement, termed quantum illumination radar, has been theoretically shown to demonstrate superiority over the optimal classical sensor, and there have been some experimental validation. However, all of the existing literature in the subject is in language, terminology and metrics that are completely unfamiliar (or relevant) to classical radar experts, and as a result there is understandable skepticism among the radar experts. This paper attempts to bridge the large gap between practical radar scientists and quantum information science (QIS) experts working in the field. We review the theoretical state-of-the-art in field and examine some of the claims in the literature in terms of metrics of relevance to radar detection, tracking and sensor fusion. We also discuss some possible technological routes to building such a radar across the electromagnetic spectrum.

DOI
10.1109/ccst.2018.8585474

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Quantum radar has been proposed in the quantum information science literature as a novel approach to sensing that can offer a substantial gain over existing, classical sensors. In particular, a quantum radar based on quantum entanglement, termed quantum illumination radar, has been theoretically shown to demonstrate superiority over the optimal classical sensor, and there have been some experimental validation. However, all of the existing literature in the subject is in language, terminology and metrics that are completely unfamiliar (or relevant) to classical radar experts, and as a result there is understandable skepticism among the radar experts. This paper attempts to bridge the large gap between practical radar scientists and quantum information science (QIS) experts working in the field. We review the theoretical state-of-the-art in field and examine some of the claims in the literature in terms of metrics of relevance to radar detection, tracking and sensor fusion. We also discuss some possible technological routes to building such a radar across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Quantum illumination (QI) and quantum radar have emerged as potentially groundbreaking technologies, leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics to revolutionise the field of remote sensing and target detection. The protocol, particularly in the context of quantum radar, has been subject to a great deal of aspirational conjecture as well as criticism with respect to its realistic potential. In this review, we present a broad overview of the field of quantum target detection focusing on QI and its potential as an underlying scheme for a quantum radar operating at microwave frequencies. We provide context for the field by considering its historical development and fundamental principles. Our aim is to provide a balanced discussion on the state of theoretical and experimental progress towards realising a working QI-based quantum radar, and draw conclusions about its current outlook and future directions.
After a brief introduction to the notion of quantum entanglement and quantum correlations, several schemes for a quantum radar based upon the quantum illumination and others protocols are discussed. We review different concepts that have been introduced to overcome several of the inherent difficulties in the implementation of quantum generation and/or detection quantum sensing protocols for RADAR applications. Our review is an up-to date critical presentation of the state of the art, with emphasis in the case by case assessment of the feasibility of the different concepts. We also aim that the review is accessible to non-experts in the field. Hence several appendixes and a technical glossary are included.
In the last decade a lot of research activity focused on the use of quantum entanglement as a resource for remote target detection, i.e. on the design of a quantum radar. The literature on this subject uses tools of quantum optics and quantum information theory, and therefore often results obscure to radar scientists. This review has been written with purpose of removing this obscurity. As such, it contains a review of the main advances in the quantum radar literature together accompanied by a thorough introduction of the quantum optics background necessary for its understanding.
Over the last decade, research activity has focused on the use of quantum entanglement as a resource for remote target detection, i.e., on the design of a quantum radar. The literature on this subject uses tools of quantum optics and quantum information theory, and therefore, results are often obscure to radar engineers. This tutorial has been written with the purpose of removing this obscurity. As such, it contains a review of the main advances in quantum radar literature accompanied by a thorough introduction of the quantum optics background necessary for its understanding.
Quantum Illumination is the phenomena where defense contractors, scientists, quantum engineers and photonics experts have pondered it as the solution for correction method and for the effects of atmosphere on entanglement, causing atmospheric coupling, bringing the quantum system to its final phase; quantum decoherence.Rather than discard the tactic, large sums of money have been poured into strategies such as improving target detection in an effort to make quantum illumination efforts more efficient, or attempting to achieve quantum illumination using Gaussian states whereby quantum harmonic oscillators adopt states resembling the oscillatory behavior of a classical harmonic oscillator.So far the progress of a deployable quantum radar has not quite been achieved due to this same obstacle, quantum decoherence.This study proposes the solution for developing a military quantum radar whereby quantum decoherence due to quantum illumination to overcome the effects of atmosphere coupling on the quantum radar's quantum entangled photons.
Quantum Radar! Check out what Wikipedia says about it: it might render stealth aircraft obsolete. Watch YouTube videos that purport to explain all about it. Read press reports in which China claims it field tested one in 2016. But is there any fire underneath all that smoke? This talk will answer that question by telling the story of “quantum illumination”, from its beginnings through recent theoretical and experimental results. Quantum illumination is the only quantum radar concept that has been proven, theoretically, to outperform all classical radars of the same transmitted energy in detecting a weakly-reflecting target that is embedded in strong background noise. It uses a source of quadrature-entangled signal and idler beams to gain its target-detection performance improvement despite loss and noise that destroys the entanglement. A realistic assessment of that improvement's utility, however, shows that its value is severely limited. Nevertheless, the fact that entanglement can be of value on an entanglement-breaking channel — the meta-lesson of the quantum illumination story — should spur continued research on quantum radar.