Prototype Quantum Radar That Can Detect Objects Which Are Invisible To Conventional Systems…Including Unmasking Stealth Aircraft — Has Now Been Developed
Researchers at the University of York in Britain, writing on the website, Science Daily, claim that “a prototype, quantum radar…that has the potential to detect objects which are invisible to conventional systems — has been developed.” Science Daily adds, “the new breed of radar is a hybrid system that uses quantum correlation between microwave and optical beams to detect objects of low reflectivity, such as cancer cells, or aircraft with stealth capability. Because the quantum radar operates at much lower energies than conventional systems, it has the long-term potential for a range of applications in biomedicine, including non-invasive MRI scans.”
“The research team, led by Dr. Stefano Pirandola, of the University’s Department of Computer Science; and, the York Center for Quantum Technologies, found that a special converter — a double cavity device that couples the microwave beam to an optical beam using a nano-mechanical oscillator — was the key to the new system,” Science Daily reports.
“The device can either generate a microwave-optical entanglement (during the signal emission), or convert a microwave into an optical beam (during the collection of the reflection beams from the object). The research is published in Physical Review Letters,” Science Daily wrote.
Quantum radars operate more effectively than conventional radars, and “exploit quantum entanglement to enhance their sensitivity to detect small signal reflections from very noisy regions. Dr. Pirandola said that “while the quantum radars were some way off, they would have superior performance….especially at the low proton regime.” “Such a non-invasive property is particularly important for short-range biomedical applications. In the longer-term, the scheme could be operated at short distances to detect the presence of defects in biological samples, or human tissues, in a completely non-invasive fashion, thanks to the use of a low number of quantum-correlated photons. Our method could be used to develop non-invasive NMR spectroscopy of fragile proteins and nucleic acids. In medicine, these techniques could potentially be applied to magnetic resonance imaging — with the aim of reducing the radiation dose absorbed by patients.”
This same technology could also be modified to unmask stealth aircraft and other stealth applications; though its use in this regard is probably still a few years away. But, there is no doubt that this science is moving the ball down the field — as a potential anti-stealth capability. V/R, RCP.