Quantum technologies create the potential for enormous leaps in crucial scientific and strategic areas, including high-powered computing, cryptography, secure communications and precise sensing.
NASA ARC explores the potential of quantum computing for computational challenges arising in future agency missions. Ames partners with domain experts across NASA, performs evaluations of emerging quantum hardware through partnerships with quantum hardware developers and investigates quantum mechanisms that may be used to provide a quantum advantage.
A key goal is to advance the understanding of quantum computing’s potential to impact challenging computational problems for NASA missions in aeronautics, space and the earth sciences. This approach will ensure communication in the denser and more autonomous air space of the future and help optimize planning and scheduling for space missions.
Ames intends to devise quantum and quantum-classical hybrid algorithms for challenging combinatorial optimization problems in NASA applications.