00;00;00;05 - 00;00;02;19 Alex1 Technically speaking. 00;00;02;21 - 00;00;05;19 Chelsie Welcome to our technically untechnical technology talk. 00;00;05;19 - 00;00;08;09 Alex And NIWC Atlantic production. 00;00;08;11 - 00;00;17;15 Chelsie Hello I'm Chelsea the NIWC Atlantic audio visual specialist, social media manager. And I just found out that quantum technology is used to measure gravitational waves. 00;00;17;23 - 00;00;23;10 Alex And I'm Alex, part of the media engagement team. And yeah, that's like Einstein and general relativity, right? 00;00;23;17 - 00;00;43;10 Chelsie yeah. General relativity, Einstein. You know, the more I look in the quantum technology, the more impressed I am with our scientists and engineers here at Atlantic who know all of this stuff. And as you may have guessed, this episode will focus on quantum technology, not just quantum computing, which is more well known, but technology in general. 00;00;43;13 - 00;01;02;16 Alex Coming up, we've got an expert here to tell us all about what quantum technology is and how now Atlantic is using it. And then we wrap up things with a military moment from an active duty Navy member who is part of the Now Atlantic mission or his team. Get comfy, turn up that volume and let's get started. 00;01;02;18 - 00;01;19;17 Chelsie So, Alex, to me, quantum technology, it sounds very futuristic, almost out of a sci fi movie, but that's probably because I'm not a physicist or an engineer. And quantum technology is that it's a combination of physics and engineering. 00;01;19;20 - 00;01;31;12 Alex Yes, I saw in the news recently that quantum computing can do work in a matter of minutes that would have normally taken days or weeks to complete. Charles It's all sounds unbelievable, but I'm excited to hear what it can do. 00;01;31;13 - 00;01;55;08 Chelsie It does sound unbelievable, but luckily we have a whole team at Atlantic here who are much more well versed in quantum technology. And we recently sat down with Dr. Robert Younts and NIWC Atlantic physicist, to explain this mysterious capability. Let's take a listen. So, Dr. Younts, thank you so much for coming on and speaking with us. Can you kind of tell me what you do here at NIWC Atlantic? 00;01;55;15 - 00;02;04;14 Dr. Younts Yes, I'm the quantum information Action officer in the Science and Technology Department at NIWC Atlantic and I'm a research physicist. 00;02;04;19 - 00;02;15;09 Chelsie You sound very important. So thank you so much for taking some time out of your day in the simplest way possible. Can you explain what your definition of quantum technology is? 00;02;15;11 - 00;02;21;18 Dr. Younts Sure. It's a technologies that rely on foundational physics in quantum mechanics. 00;02;21;21 - 00;02;25;25 Alex So how is quantum technology different from artificial intelligence? 00;02;25;28 - 00;02;58;00 Dr. Younts So quantum computing uses qubits instead of binary bits to process information. And so this unique way of processing information allows you to create algorithms that speed up classical computing algorithms, things like factoring prime numbers and things like that. It differs from artificial intelligence in that quantum computing is actually a hardware that you can use and program to speed up these different types of algorithms. 00;02;58;06 - 00;03;18;18 Dr. Younts And actually you can employ artificial intelligence algorithms on quantum computers and so they can work together in that way to speed up machine learning classifiers on quantum computing hardware. And so relying on these massive data centers to run these machine learning algorithms. 00;03;18;26 - 00;03;24;21 Alex So they can be used in tandem to help modify and broaden the speed of how things are done. 00;03;24;24 - 00;03;52;05 Dr. Younts Correct. So the goal with quantum computing is to get a quantum advantage or quantum speed speedup over classical hardware. So it doesn't take like a year or so to train these massive algorithms for CBT or other things like that. So now I know that's years in the future where in 5 to 10 years when the hardware starts to mature and then you'll start to see more implications for commerce and an industry. 00;03;52;05 - 00;03;56;18 Dr. Younts On trying to speed up machine learning in artificial intelligence algorithms On quantum computers. 00;03;56;18 - 00;04;09;17 Chelsie Speed seems to be like a huge capability when it comes to quantum technology, especially in tandem with artificial intelligence, which is exciting. And you keep using the term qubits and that's what. 00;04;09;19 - 00;04;11;19 Dr. Younts Qubit stands for. Quantum bit It's. 00;04;11;19 - 00;04;18;14 Chelsie Fast, right? Like how like what's the measurement of how fast it'd be? Like, what's the comparison? 00;04;18;15 - 00;04;40;09 Dr. Younts So in specific, like, problem, how about this? All right, If you had a massive computer in like ten years, then you could factor large prime numbers that are used in encryption keys in seconds instead of like a million or a billion years, which is what it takes today to do it on a classical computer supercomputer. 00;04;40;11 - 00;04;47;02 Chelsie Wow. So, yes, that is that is very fast. How is now Eric Atlantic using quantum technology to help the warfighter? 00;04;47;05 - 00;05;13;27 Dr. Younts So I'll start off by saying that quantum information technology is split into three or four different domains. It's actually a pretty broad research and development area. The first is quantum sensing. The second is quantum communications and networking, and the third is quantum computation. And so right now, a lot of the near term applications for the warfighter are in the quantum sensing domain. 00;05;13;27 - 00;05;30;26 Dr. Younts So a lot of our work is geared towards creating different types of RF sensors, gravitational sensors, inertial sensors to make new revolutionary technologies that are 10 to 100 times better than what it's used today. 00;05;30;28 - 00;05;36;07 Chelsie And what are these sensors do for the warfighter? What does that help them find or accomplish? 00;05;36;08 - 00;06;00;18 Dr. Younts So one of the projects working on is in quantum RF sensing using red Berg atoms to measure electric fields. So a radiofrequency wave is composed of an electric field and a magnetic field, and you can sense the electric field using a vapor cell of cesium, atoms, cesium or rubidium atoms. And we call those red berg atoms. 00;06;00;25 - 00;06;04;15 Chelsie So warfighters would be able to detect what with that ability. 00;06;04;17 - 00;06;23;09 Dr. Younts So essentially, with just a vapor cell or glass cell of atoms, you can sense RF emissions, you can receive RF energy across the spectrum, so you can use it as any sort of classical antenna. You will just replace it with this quantum RF Internet. 00;06;23;17 - 00;06;25;12 Chelsie So it helps them with communication. 00;06;25;14 - 00;06;51;12 Dr. Younts Can help them with communications, it can help with a collection of signals in the battlespace, all kinds of things that, you know, any sort of classical antenna could be replaced by this technology. And what it offers is that it's small, its size is fixed no matter where you are in our spectrum. And if you think about a radio, our ears are really tall, right? 00;06;51;17 - 00;06;59;20 Dr. Younts So you can get similar performance with something that you know fits in maybe a half rack of a computer equipment. 00;06;59;21 - 00;07;06;28 Alex Could you see using the analogy of like analog to gold, this is like a next evolution of like digital technology. 00;07;06;28 - 00;07;29;00 Dr. Younts This will be the next evolution of the analog antenna technology. So instead of having metal wires or things like that, you actually would have lasers and atoms that are doing the RF sensing instead of a piece of metal. This is the next evolution in analog RF sensing. 00;07;29;05 - 00;07;35;27 Alex So is this technology widely used outside of the Navy or defense industry? 00;07;36;02 - 00;08;08;17 Dr. Younts Right now? Quantum technology is pretty limited in terms of its applications commercially, but the best example is atomic clocks. And now today in commercial systems, you can find these chip scale atomic clocks that oscillations of rubidium atoms to measure time very precisely. And so that's used for communications, GPS, all sorts of things to provide very precise timing. 00;08;08;19 - 00;08;14;23 Chelsie Dr. Yount What is the coolest thing that you like about quantum technology? What gets you excited? 00;08;14;23 - 00;08;35;04 Dr. Younts The prospects of measuring parameters below classical noise limits? So being able to take measurements more precise than are typically done, that enables you to sense or communicate in very complex environments. 00;08;35;06 - 00;08;44;16 Alex And how did you get interested in this career? What fascinated you growing up to want to pursue something in quantum mechanics or engineering? 00;08;44;18 - 00;09;21;03 Dr. Younts That's a fun question. So actually I didn't really have a physics role model in high school and so it was like, everybody does engineering and I don't want to do medicine, so let's see what this physics thing is about. And so my first semester, my professor was a researcher in optical physics and did things in quantum materials, and I really enjoyed his lab demo and so I started working with him and in my undergrad and continued to work with that same faculty member through my Ph.D. He was a great mentor for me. 00;09;21;03 - 00;09;34;22 Dr. Younts And now that there's all of this hype around quantum computing, there's a lot of interest from the government and industry and academia, and it's a very exciting time to be a quantum researcher. 00;09;34;28 - 00;09;48;25 Alex What kind of advice would you give to someone who wants to work in this career and what should they do while they're in school now to prepare to work for the government in the future or any other organization? 00;09;48;29 - 00;10;30;25 Dr. Younts So quantum information science is very interdisciplinary. So I'd say you don't have to be a physicist to work in quantum computing or quantum sensing. There's actually a lot of work in computer and electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science and mathematics. So if you wanted to get involved, I would suggest looking at continuing education opportunities to see how to apply the things that you've learned in computer science, mathematics, in electrical and computer engineering into the quantum domain schools that offer certificates or maybe taking a summer internship or summer school. 00;10;30;27 - 00;10;32;27 Dr. Younts And really we could use all the help we can get. 00;10;33;04 - 00;10;34;00 Alex That's perfect. Yeah. 00;10;34;05 - 00;10;55;11 Chelsie I have learned so much just from chatting with you. This is all over my head. But it's exciting to hear. It's exciting to see the amount of progress we are making in this technology, in this capability that it's mind blowing to me. So thank you for chatting and kind of explaining the best you could to us about some of these awesome capabilities. 00;10;55;14 - 00;10;57;06 Dr. Younts Welcome. 00;10;57;09 - 00;11;02;13 Alex I'm glad Dr. Younts was able to come on. And as all of our burning questions about quantum technology. 00;11;02;14 - 00;11;11;04 Chelsie I'm really impressed with how we're researching this capability and how it may be used by the Department of Defense. But I'm always impressed with NIWC Atlantic. So that's nothing new. 00;11;11;11 - 00;11;27;13 Alex Same here. Now it's time to listen to another impressive individual from NIWC Atlantic information technology specialist First Class Everett Agressott. He stressed the importance of his work within cybersecurity for the U.S. Navy. 00;11;27;15 - 00;11;35;13 IT1 Agressott So I'm a part of the mission Assurance team. I work on risk management, continuity of operations, security and compliance and performance monitoring. 00;11;35;15 - 00;11;39;29 Chelsie What does that mean for those who have no idea what you just said? 00;11;40;01 - 00;11;45;18 IT1 Agressott I helped the cybersecurity of our network locally and I work from Wonderful. 00;11;45;21 - 00;11;49;03 Alex How is that important in creating information warfare solutions? 00;11;49;05 - 00;11;54;01 IT1 Agressott So that improves our reliability, security and resilience. 00;11;54;01 - 00;11;59;01 Chelsie Can you kind of give me like a scenario, an example of what you're doing, where your job comes into play? 00;11;59;05 - 00;12;24;26 IT1 Agressott So technology is always ever building? Correct. And with that threat, actors are always improving on their ways of trying to infiltrate and get our information. What Nowack does is that we take all these new and upcoming technologies and we're kind of like a test bed, in essence, and we provide complex solutions simplified for the warfighter. 00;12;24;29 - 00;12;26;19 Chelsie So how long have you been in the Navy? 00;12;26;21 - 00;12;28;19 IT1 Agressott Six years. 00;12;28;21 - 00;12;31;03 Chelsie It's a good amount of time. We liken it. 00;12;31;05 - 00;12;33;10 IT1 Agressott It's is decent so far, but it's. 00;12;33;10 - 00;12;39;02 Alex Good. And where do you see the future of the Navy technology? Where do you think it will take us in the next 10 to 20 years? 00;12;39;02 - 00;12;54;03 IT1 Agressott So I would love to say we're going to have hovering aircraft carriers like in the Marvel movies. But yeah, I don't know. I think we're already top tier Navy. So let's let's just hope that we can keep our our steadfast pace. 00;12;54;03 - 00;13;00;17 Alex What is the significance for you? Why do you what did you want to be part of the armed forces? 00;13;00;17 - 00;13;25;19 IT1 Agressott This is going to sound ridiculous, but I saw a Transformers movie when I was young and I saw how these guys were using all these cool toys, and I decided that I wanted to join the armed forces and play with some cool toys. I didn't know what toys I'd be playing with, but I just knew that that was something that I was interested in. 00;13;25;22 - 00;13;31;22 Chelsie Doesn't sound ridiculous. I think a lot of people have a similar story. Well, thank you so much for speaking with us today. 00;13;31;24 - 00;13;33;10 Alex Yeah, Thanks so much. 00;13;33;13 - 00;13;36;23 IT1 Agressott Thank you for having me. 00;13;36;25 - 00;13;51;29 Chelsie Petty Officer Agressott did a great job of explaining how I would get. Lineker devotes a lot of work to testing capabilities and programs within cybersecurity in order to simplify complex solutions and deliver that to guys like him. The warfighter. 00;13;51;29 - 00;14;03;28 Alex And you never know what will motivate people to join the Navy. That was really needed to hear that the technology and the Transformer movie was one thing that motivated him to enlist so he could be a part of that. In the real world. 00;14;04;00 - 00;14;07;26 Chelsie You really do never know that. Awesome. That movie was a good movie. I liked it. It was really good. 00;14;09;24 - 00;14;18;20 Chelsie As always, to learn more about anything we mentioned in the podcast, check out Our social media is under work or our NIWC Atlantic website. The links are in the description. 00;14;18;21 - 00;14;33;00 Alex That wraps up another exciting episode of Technically Speaking. Thanks for listening. If you have a tip or story that you think should be included in this podcast, please contact us at our public Affairs email address, which is listed in the description. 00;14;33;07 - 00;14;50;11 Chelsie Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic, also known as NIWC, is the East Coast branch of the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command within the Department of the Navy. We develop a range of technologies that provide state of the art capabilities to the United States military.