Naishal Patel

ISM 2A
12/1/15

Research Assessment #6
Sources
Jia, Bin, Khanh Pham, Genshe Chen, Dan Shen, Zhonghai Wang, Gang Wang,
and Erik Blasch. "Quantum Technology for Aerospace Applications." Sensors
and Systems for Space Applications VII (2014): n. pag. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.
Date
December 1st, 2015
Analysis

Every field must continuously keep improving and incorporating

new technology in order to survive and not become obsolete. Many once
great industries have fallen because they failed to keep up with current
technology and quickly became obsolete. In order to innovate, a company
must keep improving the base upon which they are improving. Typically the
innovation output is proportional to the technological input. A fairly new field
of science has begun to take over the technology field and its interesting to
see its uses and applications. Quantum mechanics is touted as being one of
the most complicated fields of science as it is the most incomplete field.
Recently quantum sciences and theories have been applied to computer and
it has revolutionized them.
The basic ideas of quantum mechanics, the theories, have wide
applications. Often what they state seem contradictory and make very little
sense, but through experimentation and mathematical equations, they obey
all laws and continue to mystify people. One of the basic theories applied in

Naishal Patel
ISM 2A
12/1/15

a quantum computer involves quantum superposition. A typical computer

run by reading values called bits. Bits have a value of either 0 or 1, never
both. The sequence of bits store data and their configuration tells a
computer what to do. How fast a computer can read and write these bits
typically determines how powerful a computer is. A quantum computer
however uses qubits which can have either the value 0, 1, or both at the
same time. Superposition states that an object can hold 2 states at the same
time and this qubit fits that description. Now that it can hold either of 3
values and infinitely switch between them, the computer is suddenly a
hundred times better and will complete tasks that would take normal
computers years in a couple of days.
Quantum mechanics has evolved and has been derived from real
examples of space and small scale theories. Having a foundation in space, it
only makes sense that a major use of quantum computing be in space
applications. A couple of years ago NASA and Google jointly bought a
quantum computer. They are one of the handful owners of one. Currently its
applications involve metrology and in the Kepler mission. Metrology is the
study of measurements and in this case it involves measuring large
distances. The Kepler mission is constantly looking for habitable earth like
planets in the universe. Both are incredibly important and there are hundreds
of other uses for this computer.

Naishal Patel
ISM 2A
12/1/15

Over the summer I became extremely interested in quantum

mechanics. The way that it completely defies human logic and then makes
sense when the math is completed is puzzling to me but it kept me
thoroughly engaged. This was the one time I questioned wanting to study
aerospace engineering and instead study quantum mechanics. Luckily I
found this and it got me very interested. It is still a very new field and has
infinite applications. This gave me a new outlook on what I wanted to do
within aerospace engineering and I want to start focusing on quantum
mechanics inside of aerospace engineering and its potential applications.
Right now it is best to focus on the basics of aerospace engineering as the
rest is above my head. But overall this article changed the way I think about
aerospace engineering and its future as well as my future. This has made me
more curious than ever.