ISRO & TIFR Join Forces to Advance Space Science and Astronomy Research

ISRO and TIFR recently held a collaboration meet to strengthen India's capabilities in space science and astronomy. The meeting, attended by fifty scientists and engineers, focused on integrating the scientific and technological expertise of both institutions. Discussions covered various domains, including millimeter-wave astronomy, space weather, radio astronomy, cosmic ray physics, and planetary science.

This initiative aligns with India's evolving space ecosystem and Space Vision 2047, aiming to establish a structured framework for scientific collaboration with clear targets and milestones. The meeting concluded with an action plan to advance joint research efforts.

The ISRO–TIFR collaboration aims to enhance India's capabilities in space science and astronomy by integrating their scientific and technological expertise. Some key objectives include:

• Strengthening research in millimeter-wave astronomy, space weather, radio astronomy, cosmic ray physics, and planetary science.
• Establishing a structured framework for scientific collaboration with clear targets and milestones, aligning with India's Space Vision 2047.
• Leveraging India's radio astronomy observatories for modular integration into international mega-projects.
• Expanding joint research efforts through domain-specific breakout sessions to identify new areas of cooperation.

This initiative marks a significant step toward building a strong national network for space sciences and achieving global excellence in space research.

Young Scientists From DRDO's Lab Complete End-To-End Testing of Quantum Processor Based on Superconducting Circuit Technology

Scientists from the DRDO Young Scientists Laboratory for Quantum Technologies (DYSL-QT) in Pune, in collaboration with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai, have successfully completed the end-to-end testing of a 6-qubit quantum processor based on superconducting circuit technology.

For a novice, Superconducting Circuits are electronic circuits that operate at extremely low temperatures, where certain materials exhibit zero electrical resistance. This property allows for the creation of highly efficient and fast circuits, which are crucial for quantum computing.

Many quantum processors, including those developed by companies like Google and IBM, use superconducting circuit technology.

This milestone by DRDO's young scientists involved submitting a quantum circuit from a cloud-based interface, executing the program on the quantum hardware, and updating the cloud interface with the computed results.

 

Image - DRDO 

The project is a collaboration between DYSL-QT, TIFR, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), with the qubits designed and fabricated at TIFR.

The scientists at DYSL-QT developed the control and measurement apparatus using a combination of commercial off-the-shelf electronics and custom-programmed development boards. They are also responsible for optimizing various aspects of the system’s performance before it becomes operational.

The qubits used in the quantum processor were designed and fabricated at TIFR. The architecture of the quantum processor is based on a novel ring-resonator design invented at TIFR.

TCS developed the cloud-based interface that allows users to submit quantum circuits, execute programs on the quantum hardware, and receive computed results.

In future plans, the next steps include scaling up the number of qubits and assessing the technology’s scalability and feasibility for commercial application.

Beside this, the scientists want to further optimize the system's performance and scaling up the number of qubits to assess the technology's scalability and feasibiliy for commercial applications.

Few days back, the National Quantum Mission (NQM) of India announced to offer grants to 10 to 15 startups in the next three months to support startups in the field of quantum computing.

India Soon To Launch Its First Quantum Computer

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research's (TIFR's) Jay Deshmukh (left) and Binoy Nambiar of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) working on a dilution refrigerator used to cool superconducting qubits; (Photo: Mandar Deodhar | Source – IndiaToday.in)

India is making significant strides in the field of quantum computing. The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai is on the verge of completing the country's first quantum computer. This groundbreaking achievement is a testament to the relentless efforts of the Quantum Measurement and Control (QuMaC) lab, which was established 12 years ago with the specific goal of tackling the complex challenges inherent in quantum system development.

Led by Dr. R. Vijayaraghavan, QuMaC views this initial quantum computer as a pivotal stepping stone for India's foray into the burgeoning field of quantum technology. The project, undertaken in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), involves designing critical components such as the quantum processing unit, electronics, and software—each presenting its own intricate challenges.

For uninitiated, quantum computers, leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics, hold immense promise for revolutionizing fields ranging from drug discovery and materials science to cryptography and artificial intelligence. While still in its nascent stages, this breakthrough by TIFR marks a crucial step for India in joining the global race to harness the power of quantum computing.

TIFR, in its pursuit of creating India’s first quantum computer, has partnered with two key entities: the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The collaboration with DRDO brings expertise in defense technology and research. DRDO’s involvement likely focuses on security applications and potential military use cases for quantum computing.

Together with TIFR, DRDO contributes to the design and development of critical components, including the quantum processing unit, electronics, and software.

TCS collaborates with TIFR to create the necessary software stack for the quantum computer. This includes programming languages, compilers, and tools to harness the quantum hardware efectively.

Additionally, TCS may contribute insights into practical applications of quantum computing across various domains.

It may be recalled that in June, IndianWeb2 reported that the Government of India is looking to work with IT services majors like TCS, HCL and Tech Mahindra to develop software for quantum technologies under the NQM, which will support Indian startups and scientists working in the emerging area.

Besides this, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) too launched its Quantum Technology Initiative (IQTI) in September 2020. The initiative aims to establish a solid foundation for quantum technologies by fostering collaborations between physicists, material scientists, computer scientists, and engineers. It actively engages with businesses and strategic partners to develop technology with economic and social impact

Additionally, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi is also working on an indigenous room-temperature quantum computer that will use photons for faster calculations.