Recently, China has made significant breakthroughs in core technologies that have the capability to strip away the stealth coatings of American military aircraft such as the B-2, B-21, F-22, and F-35. According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post and the latest academic reports it cited, China has successfully mass-produced the world's first four-channel ultra-low-noise semiconductor single-photon detector. This device has set new world records in key indicators such as detection efficiency, dark noise level, and integration, marking that China's single-photon detection technology has entered the global leading stage.

The core of this technology lies in its ability to accurately identify individual photons, which is hailed as a "super vision eye." Its mass production has profound significance for China's military modernization and strategic capabilities.

Firstly, it can create an "unbreakable" quantum communication. The single-photon detector is a core component in building a quantum key distribution system. The South China Morning Post had previously paid close attention to China's research on breaking encryption algorithms in the field of quantum computing. This breakthrough in the new single-photon detector provides unprecedented security assurance for China's military communications on the defensive side.

The four-channel integration and ultra-low noise characteristics will enable China's military communication systems to transmit faster and farther: even under weak light signals, it can maintain high efficiency, greatly increasing the rate and reliability of quantum key distribution, supporting a space-ground integrated military quantum communication network. Ultra-low noise means it can effectively eliminate environmental interference, ensuring that critical military information theoretically has "absolute security" encryption levels in any wartime environment.

Secondly, the "quantum sharp eyes" can revolutionize the detection of stealth targets. This detector is the key to the next generation of quantum-enhanced lidar (also known as single-photon radar), capable of completely changing current battlefield situational awareness. Whether it's the B-21, B-2, F-22, or F-35, they are all not stealthy in front of the single-photon radar, and will be imaged with high-resolution.

Traditional radars can be evaded by stealth materials, but quantum radar can image with just a few photons reflected back from the target. This makes it possible to detect and identify stealth aircraft, ships, and even hypersonic weapons with low reflectivity that try to avoid traditional radars.

The high sensitivity of quantum radar allows the detector to perform long-range, high-resolution 3D imaging and ranging in complex environments such as fog, smog, etc., which is crucial for improving the precision guidance and terminal lock-on accuracy of missiles and drones.

In addition, quantum radar empowers space competition and intelligence reconnaissance. The South China Morning Post has been closely following China's breakthroughs in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence-assisted submarine command and military 5G in recent years. The breakthrough in single-photon detectors will directly enhance China's advantages in space military competition:

This technology can be used in ground-based or space-based optical telescopes and sensors, enabling the early, accurate detection, tracking, and identification of enemy satellites, space debris, and anti-satellite weapons in orbit, forming the foundation for mastering "space control." The detector can be integrated into the next generation of low-light night vision and reconnaissance equipment, allowing reconnaissance platforms to clearly capture images under extremely low light conditions, significantly enhancing nighttime intelligence gathering, patrols, and target identification capabilities.

International media such as the South China Morning Post paying attention to these technological breakthroughs reflects that military technology has become a "decisive factor" in the competition among major powers. China's mass production of the world's first four-channel ultra-low-noise single-photon detector has solved the bottlenecks in integration, noise, and efficiency of this technology before, meaning that China has achieved self-controlled and performance leadership in key basic components.

This progress not only consolidates China's global position in the field of quantum information, but also provides core technological support for upgrading future combat platforms and intelligence systems. As experts analyzed, it provides China with a "self-controlled" and performance-leading strategic advantage in multiple future key military areas such as quantum secure communication, stealth target detection, and all-weather battlefield reconnaissance.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7563130562131591726/

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