China Takes the Lead in Quantum Technology:
As quantum technology moves from the laboratory into the real world, China is forging ahead in this defining technological race through independent innovation. This nonfiction work follows Pan Jianwei’s team as it breaks new ground in quantum communication, computing, and sensing, revealing how China has bridged the gap between quantum theory and practical applications.
In the ultraclean room of the Hefei Micro-Scale Laboratory, a superconducting quantum chip no bigger than a fingernail undergoes millions of precision operations. It is the heart of the Zuchongzhi 4 quantum computer, whose computing power can solve in one second a problem that would take a conventional supercomputer a billion years. The Micius satellite cuts across the sky, weaving a quantum communication network between heaven and earth. The System formed by the Jinan-1 microsatellite and its ground station can generate secure keys at 3 kbps at cruising altitude, equivalent to locking down 100,000 bank transfers at once. The “quantum supremacy” achieved by the Jiuzhang photonic quantum computer marks a historic leap for China in the field of photonic quantum computing.
The global quantum race is a three-dimensional marathon: the United States leads in quantum error correction, while Europe has moved early to develop medical applications for quantum sensing... Pan Jianwei’s team is building China’s comprehensive competitive strength with a strategy of “leading in communication, keeping pace in computing, and running alongside others in sensing.” This is no single sprint, but a breakthrough across the entire chain, from basic research to engineering applications. As quantum sensors learn to “see atoms dance,” and quantum communication networks extend across every scenario from satellites to smartphones, China is injecting new momentum into quantum technology worldwide through hard-won technological strength!
