Thales Introduces Groundbreaking Quantum Innovations Poised to Transform the Future

Thales embraces France’s bold quantum initiative, which is essential for fostering exploration in this domain. Thales innovators are taking a pivotal role in the quantum transformation and are currently crafting the forthcoming generation of quantum innovations that will define the future: quantum detectors, quantum communication systems, and post-quantum encryption. By utilizing cold atom technology, imperfect diamonds, and superconducting devices, the Group’s specialists are amalgamating their efforts to harness untapped attributes of matter and unlock a plethora of new possibilities. As a key participant in the Saclay ecosystem and Europe’s foremost industrial research facility in the realm of physics, Thales continues to collaborate with academic institutions, industries, and the start-up ecosystem to expedite the advancement of sovereign quantum technologies.

Expediting the advancement of these technologies through France’s quantum initiative

Thales supports the ambitious quantum initiative initiated by the French government, which will accelerate the progression of the promising, sovereign technologies of quantum detectors, quantum communication systems, and post-quantum encryption.

The Group persistently allocates 1 billion euros each year towards self-funded R&D, challenging the boundaries of the feasible and assisting in maintaining the excellence of French and European research to benefit Thales clients.

Quantum detectors: enhancing and expanding human perception to better comprehend our surroundings

Smart residences, autonomous vehicles, automated trains, air traffic regulation, Industry 4.0, alternative energy sources, connected healthcare devices and services, state-of-the-art defense and security solutions… None of this advancements would be achievable without the various types of detectors that exist globally today.

Detectors are available in all configurations. From the simplest kitchen meat thermometer to the most intricate radars utilized in air traffic management, detectors serve a vital function in enriching human awareness of the world around us.

In an increasingly interconnected and digital environment, quantum detectors enhance and broaden human perception to generate new insights. Research is progressing at Thales laboratories into numerous types of detectors:

• Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are undergoing extensive examination today, targeting the development of miniaturized quantum antennas to identify communication signals across a vast spectrum of radio frequencies and provide a competitive advantage, especially at lower frequencies. These superconducting technologies could have applications in diverse areas, including brain imaging and particle identification.
• Solid-state quantum detectors, such as nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers in diamonds, have revealed their capability to detect exceedingly subtle magnetic fields. This category of ultra-sensitive detector could be beneficial in various applications, from bio-detectors to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and identifying flaws in metals.
• Rare earth ions will be utilized to analyze and process radiofrequency and optical signals. Continuous, wideband radiofrequency spectrum analyzers based on rare earth ions present a means to alleviate network congestion and enhance frequency allocation—frequencies being a precious resource—and could also find uses in military intelligence.
• Thales is also investigating the incorporation of cold atom technology in prospective quantum inertial navigation systems for aircraft. Currently, an airplane departing from Paris, equipped solely with a conventional inertial navigation system, can arrive in New York within a few kilometers’ precision. With future quantum detectors, aircraft will achieve navigation and landing precision within one meter.

Quantum detectors hold significant promise across numerous sectors. Innovative, ultra-sensitive, miniaturized magnetometers will revolutionize medicine, with numerous applications ranging from cutting-edge miniaturized MRI systems to diagnosing brain tumors or alterations in cognitive functions.

The pivotal role of quantum communications: ensuring completely reliable communications and managing future networks of quantum entities

In a digital economy where communication is crucial, and with the relentless growth in data rates in both fixed and mobile communication systems, quantum technologies will enable secure communications with unbreachable cryptographic keys based on the quantum traits of light. The concept of quantum communications has been established for some time in point-to-point networks, but the quantum Internet of the future will need to adapt these principles to large-scale networks. Thales is at the forefront of designing these future network infrastructures, both for terrestrial network components and the space-based elements necessary to share cryptographic keys over extended distances. Thales participates in EuroQCI, a substantial European initiative aimed at deploying a quantum-secured network of this nature to create an ultra-secure Europe-wide platform for transmitting sensitive information.

Beyond quantum-secured communications, quantum data such as qubits, the fundamental units of quantum information, could be disseminated across a quantum information network. This network might connect systems like quantum detectors and quantum computers, leveraging quantum principles to construct integrated systems delivering significantly enhanced performance. While it may be a while before these systems become accessible, the foundational elements of quantum information networks, such as quantum memories, entanglement generators, and protocols, are already in the design phase.

Post-quantum encryption: acting now to safeguard our systems against tomorrow’s quantum computers

Communication security is a strategic necessity for governments, corporations, and private individuals. At present, communication security primarily relies on RSA cryptosystems, which hinge on the complex mathematical challenge of factorizing a number into its prime components. The algorithm for future quantum computers capable of breaking RSA encryption, threatening the basis of current cryptographic strategies, is already recognized. Thales is leveraging its expertise in information systems security to create alternative encryption methodologies employing different mathematical challenges to withstand quantum computers. These strategies, combined with the application of quantum keys, will offer deeper, more persistent, and unconditional safeguarding for our data resources.