Qnu Labs sets up india’s First Quantum Lab

deeP teCh qnu Labs sets uP IndIa’s FIrst quantuM Lab

The deployment of Quantum technology-based systems for protecting the nation’s data, communications and infrastructure support systems is gaining critical traction globally. In India, the technology is still in a very nascent stage of development and requires unconventional approach of knowledge dissemination for absorption and create the skilled pool of resources for development. QNu Labs takes the mantle to proliferate Quantum technology to the next level

By Capt Sunil SuD, in

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he ongoing Russia – Ukraine war has lessons for every nation. A nation’s security is not just dependent on its Armed Forces but to a fairly large measure, also dependent on the security systems deployed for protecting the nation’s data, communications and infrastructure support systems. Quantum technology-based systems address the latter critical need.

US and a number of European countries, over the past two decades, have invested heavily into developing Quantum computers and Quantum based data and communication security systems for safeguarding their data, communications and all their critical infrastructure support systems. Today, due to the massive progress made by these countries, companies like IBM and Google offer Quantum computers to academic institutions and other companies/ prospective users across the globe, for experimenting and gaining hands-on expertise in using the Quantum computers.

In the Indian context, Quantum computers and Quantum based data and communication security systems are still in a very nascent stage of development. With very little investment over the years in this critical field and near lack of appreciation of the need of such systems for safeguarding data, communication and infrastructure support systems, has virtually resulted in virtually no recognizable development in this area. The lack of critical competence in this key technology domain, has also prevented any proliferation of this technology across the industry, academic institutions and other agencies as well as the infrastructure support systems.

The only way out of the current situation, is to disseminate knowledge across academic institutions, industry and user agencies for quick absorption. This in turn should lead to a pool of skilled persons becoming available to the development agencies with requisite development skills in this domain. Getting developed over a period of time, availability of such resources in turn, should provide an impetus for developing new systems/use cases.

It must however be realized, that using conventional methods of competence building in the field of Quantum technology domain, will take very long. The only way to accelerate the pace of creating a pool of trained resources with Quantum expertise/awareness therefore requires an unconventional approach. One such way is to set up a Quantum lab, which can then be made accessible to a large number of people interested in this deep technology.

QNu Labs today, is India’s leading agency, engaged in the development of Quantum based data and communication security systems. The Bengaluru based startup over the past 5 years, has developed and delivered Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNG) and other Quantum based solutions, to multiple customers both in India and abroad. These systems, have been tested in field by customers and have also undergone performance evaluation by independent agencies in Europe.

Recognizing the existing knowledge gap in the domain of Quantum technology and the need to build awareness and competence in this field, QNu Labs, in discussions with the Indian Army, offered to develop and set up, the country’s first Quantum Lab at the Military College of Telecom Engineering (MCTE) at Mhow, in October 2021. This entailed modifying the already developed Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and the Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNG) systems to enable the trainees to conduct various types of tests, as part of their training.

To enhance knowledge building and gain insight into the QKD system, a major effort undertaken by QNu Labs was to develop a software training package called ‘Critical Analysis Research Platform’ (CARP). This setup enables the trainee to develop understanding of quantum key distribution system by going deep inside the system.

This solution allows the user to explore following aspects, amongst others: • The details about the raw bits, percentage of error (QBER) over a large number of key generation process. • The various levels of privacy amplification. • The performance of QKD platform in terms of different parameters for e.g., key rate vs distance. • To study effectiveness of error correction. • To understand DPS protocol through the various experiments. • Experiment on weak coherent source such as HBT test. • Impact of source characteristics on the

QKD performance. • Applying non ideal parameters and studying their impact on QBER. • Effect on the self-interference outcomes due to the variable encoding • Change in the key rate by varying the attenuation and pulse width of the optical pulse.

Consequent to the setting up of the Quantum Lab, QNu Labs is actively working with the MCTE team in deploying some of the solutions that have since been evolved. It is anticipated that using these solutions, the trainee students can be asked to create new use cases. This will demonstrate the trainee’s understanding of the underlying Quantum technology.

QNu Labs is now further venturing into helping proliferate Quantum technology to its next level. It is currently working towards setting up a Quantum Lab within ReCOGniZinG The exisTinG knOWLedGe GaP in The dOMain OF QUanTUM TeChnOLOGY and The need TO BUiLd aWaReness and COMPeTenCe in This FieLd, QnU LaBs, in disCUssiOns WiTh The indian aRMY, OFFeRed TO deveLOP and seT UP, The COUnTRY’s FiRsT QUanTUM LaB aT The MiLiTaRY COLLeGe OF TeLeCOM enGineeRinG (MCTe) aT MhOW, in OCTOBeR 2021

its own premises that would be made available to users across academic institutions and key organizations for use, during non-working hours in the pay per use model. This, the company believes, will attract those who have a penchant for Quantum technology but lack access to live systems for gaining hands-on experience.

This initiative, it is anticipated, will get a large number of students excited enough to actively sign up for using the systems and thereby learning this deep technology. This will further pave the path to create a sizable pool of resources, with reasonable exposure to Quantum technology, in a relatively short period of time.

This, perhaps best describes QNu Labs belief and efforts in addressing the lack of most critical resource within the country that prevents large scale advancement in the domain of Quantum technology-skilled manpower.

–The writer is a veteran Electrical Officer, having served the Indian Navy for over 23 years. He has worked in the IT industry for 15 years, including heading operations for the company in Europe and as a Consultant guided the senior leadership of diverse companies. He currently heads the Defense Business Unit at QNu Labs