Quantum Information Technologies Journal

Editorial

Rute Sofia, Ramjee Prasad — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The Quantum Information Technologies Journal (QITJ) emerges as a scien- tific initiative of the CONASENSE (Communications, Navigation, Sensing, and Services Integrated) Steering Committee to advance and demystify the field of quantum technologies. This publication aims to bridge the gap between fundamental quantum mechanics and its rapidly evolving technological applications, while also supporting the broader educational mission of promoting quantum science at a time when interest in studying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines is declining among incoming academic cohorts.

The CONASENSE Steering Committee had the objective of creating a scientific journal focused on quantum technologies, based on the founda- tion of quantum mechanics, while promoting both academic research and industrial innovation. At this pivotal moment, as the world marks a century since the formal birth of quantum mechanics, it is essential to reflect on its historical legacy and contemporary significance. The First Quantum Revolu- tion of the 20th century gave rise to transformative technologies, including the invention of the LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and microelectronics, which underpin modern computing. The quantum tech breakthroughs were made possible through the cumulative efforts of scientists and engineers across the last century, and they continue to shape the fabric of modern life. Today, as the global scientific community is working twoards The Second Quantum Revolution, characterized by current and future advancements in quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing and metrol- ogy, quantum simulation and quantum cryptography, there is an urgent need for a dedicated platform that can curate high-quality research, foster interdis- ciplinary collaboration, and stimulate thoughtful discourse across academia, industry, and government sectors.

The QITJ journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of scientific investigation, under the leadership and review of its Editor-in-Chief, and with the support of a specialist and international editorial board. Thus, it will serve as a platform for original contributions and critical perspectives that inform, inspire, and shape the developing quantum information tech- nologies ecosystems. We, the CONASENSE steering committee, are pleased to welcome the QITJ’s new readers to its inaugural edition. We invite you all to engage and contribute to what promises to be an intellectually and educationally enriching, as well as a technologically transformative, journey.

Quantum in the Classroom: A Project-based Approach to Building Awareness and Workforce Readiness in Emerging Technologies

Kristen Outler, Vanessa Mahoney, Robert Vigneau, Kevin McComber — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0200

As global demand for a quantum-ready workforce accelerates, there is an urgent need to introduce students to quantum information science (QIS) well before post-secondary education. However, most K–12 learning environments lack accessible, standards-aligned tools to make this possible. This article presents a case study of SparkAlpha Explore, a cross-curricular, project-based education program developed by Spark Photonics Foundation to address gaps in emerging technology awareness, particularly in the photonics and semiconductor industries, among students at both pre-college and college levels. The program integrates QIS with related fields such as photonics, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing while supporting educators with professional development, classroom-ready materials, and a digital community of practice. A key focus of the article is Quantum Impact, a recent extension to the SparkAlpha Explore program that introduces foundational QIS concepts like quantum sensing to middle and high school students. This article also discusses the program’s adaptability for international use, its train-the-teacher implementation model, and the broader importance of collaborative partnerships in scaling quantum education globally.

The Quantum Communication Frontier: From Entanglement Research to Global Networks

Paulo Mendes — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Quantum information technologies are poised to fundamentally transform global communication. Unlike classical systems, quantum communication leverages phenomena like quantum entanglement to offer unprecedented capabilities. This not only revolutionizes security and computational methods, but also drives advancements in specialized applications such as advanced sensing and precise time synchronization. These developments hold significant implications for critical sectors including medicine and health, materials science, and energy. At the core of this transformation is the concept of a quantum Internet, built upon the unique properties of quantum entanglement. The strategic use of entanglement as a communication resource is expected to profoundly impact the future evolution of the Internet and the development of 6G networks. This paper explores the path from current quantum entanglement research to a global quantum network. It highlights the advantages of satellite-based quantum communications for routing quantum information and discusses the simulation tools essential for designing and optimizing these advanced communication systems.

Post-quantum Cryptography: Protecting Critical Data and Enhancing Cyber Resilience

Michael Fasulo — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Quantum computing represents a significant threat to the asymmetric cryptographic algorithms currently used to protect the traditional data security infrastructure today’s enterprises depend upon. With Gartner predicting that by 2029 advances in quantum computing will render applications, data and networks protected by asymmetric cryptography unsafe, organisations must begin preparations to transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). Organisations that fail to prepare for quantum today risk potentially exposing their sensitive data on a massive scale, as threat actors are already collecting encrypted enterprise data in anticipation of future quantum decryption capabilities. The migration to PQC involves updating risk registers and enabling the crypto agility that supports the rapid implementation of new algorithms and ensures organisations can adapt fast to new regulatory standards.

Quantum Computing Standardization and Regulation: Status and Way Forward

Valerio Frascolla — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Quantum computing (QC) is an emerging technology with transformative potential that remains in development and that promises significant impacts across a broad spectrum of industrial sectors. Small and medium enterprises, large corporations, and academic institutions are investing substantial resources to make this promising technology a commercial reality. Given the fragmented nature of current QC initiatives and the diverse development pathways being pursued to commercialize them, establishing coordinated standardization efforts across different global regions is critical to accelerate progress and ensure interoperability between the various proposed hardware and software solutions. This paper reviews recent standardization efforts and the main standards developing organizations working on the definition of future QC products. Finally, it analyzes the current discussion on the European Commission planned Quantum Act and its potential effects on the QC community.

A Quantized History of Quantum Mechanics for Quantum Engineers

Paulo Sergio Rufino Henrique, Ramjee Prasad — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0100

2025 is the year UNESCO selected to celebrate 100 years of this novel science, quantum mechanics, based on Heisenberg’s “uncertainty principle” discovery. However, quantum mechanics began with the discovery of quantum packets of energy emission formulated by the German physicist Max Planck, and it incorporated additional discoveries and principles from Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Heisenberg, Pauli, de Broglie, and many others in the early 1900s. Since then, many advancements and breakthroughs have been made. Such scientific contributions have influenced the culture and technology of humanity from the 20th century onwards, with the first quantum revolutions bringing innovations in technology and engineering, including the omnipresent light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (Laser), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), microprocessor manufacturing and design for computers and nuclear energy. Thus, at the beginning of the Second Quantum Revolution in the 21st century, amid a new wave of novel quantum technologies promising to create the 5th Industrial Revolution and transform humanity, a brief history of these marvellous sciences is condensed, connecting the wonders of the new quantum technogenesis that is being forged, linking its past with classical mechanics and also with novel relativistic mechanics. Understanding these developments highlights the significance of quantum technologies shaping our future and what lies ahead for us.

This article explores technologies that are presently under research and development (R&D) in the quantum physics realm, including quantum computing, quantum cryptography, quantum sensing and metrology, and quantum simulation. It also discusses emerging careers in the quantum field and the unresolved mysteries that continue to challenge scientists. The discussion follows the ancient griot tradition of storytelling, a method that the distinguished physicist, great professor, and Nobel laureate Richard Feynman encouraged us to use to explain complex scientific ideas.

Hybrid Quantum Security: Integrating QKD and PQC in Brownfield Optical Networks

Alberto Comin — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The future security of digital communications will increasingly rely on the integration of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), indicating a necessary convergence rather than a competitive relationship between these two technologies. Following the publication of NIST FIPS 203, 204 and 205, the industry now possesses standardised algorithmic tools for migrating away from RSA and elliptic-curve cryptography (ECC). At the same time, for critical infrastructure facing “harvest-now, decrypt-later” adversaries, purely software-based measures provide only computational, not information-theoretic, security. We argue that the optimal solution is a hybrid architecture, in which PQC provides authentication and cryptographic agility across heterogeneous endpoints, while QKD supplies an additional physical-layer shield for high-value links. The central engineering challenge is brownfield coexistence: deploying QKD over existing lit telecom fibers that carry high-power classical traffic.

We review three spectral coexistence strategies to mitigate Spontaneous Raman Scattering (SpRS) – O-band separation, dense C-band DWDM integration with guard bands, and an “inverted” spectrum approach where data uses the O-band and QKD uses the C-band – and we discuss emerging physical media such as hollow-core and multi-core fibers. At the protocol layer, we discuss hybrid key encapsulation and the role of crypto-agile gateways in combining keys from classical, PQC and QKD sources [1]. Finally, we survey industrial pilots (e.g., SK Telecom, EuroQCI / OPENQKD) and outline open challenges in cost, standardisation and operations. The goal is to provide practitioners with a realistic, engineering-oriented overview of how PQC and QKD can be combined in brownfield optical networks.