Quantum mechanics is the field of physics that explains how tiny objects simultaneously have the characteristics of both particles (tiny pieces of matter) and waves (a disturbance or variation that transfers energy). Physicists call this the “wave-particle duality. Quantum mechanics grew out of the tremendous progress that physicists made in the early 20th century toward understanding the microscopic world around us and how it differed from the macroscopic world.

Quantum mechanics led to the development of things like lasers, light-emitting diodes, transistors, medical imaging, electron microscopes, and a host of other modern devices like smartphones.

Principles of Quantum Mechanics –

 The Superposition principle- television, microwaves and computers

 the Uncertainty principle- applies only to microscopic objects and minuscule particles.

 The Complementarity principle- DNA replication, applications in anatomy.

Implications of advancement in Quantum Mechanics-

1. Threat to encryption– its applications has the potential to break encryption which underpins the enterprises, digital infrastructures and economy. It can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of data.

2. Cyber Security concerns– The US and China are already at the forefront for investing and researching on quantum applications and this has further expanded the specter of quantum cyber attacks against nations like India.

3. Enhanced Artificial Intelligence (AI): Quantum machine learning algorithms can potentially enable more efficient and accurate training of AI models.

4. Better Sensing and Measurement: Quantum sensors can detect tiny changes in the environment, making them useful in areas such as medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and geological exploration.

5. Costly and difficult to manage and control- The materials used to create them can be costly, and many researchers believe that these costs may never be recovered.

6. Diverse applications- ranging from weather prediction to securing financial transactions, from agriculture to advanced manufacturing and the spillover effect on employment is vast.

Policy measures for India to promote Research and Development-

1. Easing the legislative hurdles – identifying this as a crucial sector both in economic and security terms the procedures should be eased to give prompt funding for the Research and Development activities.

2. Establishing Centers of Excellence-There is a high need to establish Centers of Excellence within both academic and government research institute.

3. Indegenization- procuring these from other nations has its own disadvantages, so, it is important to develop these at home.

4. Collaboration with global players – It is necessary to collaborate with like-minded entities and organizations to fight those who weaponize technology.

Like any other advanced technology, Quantum Mechanics brings in a lot of opportunities and hurdles. For the sake of the security and resilience of our economy, it is imperative that we take a giant leap about funding the Research and Development of Quantum technology.