China’s quantum radar eyes unexpected visitors from space
- A new ground radar that operates in extremely cold temperatures is being developed for use in the country’s planetary defence system
- China can no longer buy the extreme coolers it needs because of sanctions imposed by the US and must build its own, say researchers
China is developing a new ground radar that operates in extremely cold temperatures for deep-space surveillance, according to scientists involved in the project.
Its detection range could reach 15 million kilometres (9.3 million miles) – or nearly 40 times the distance between the Earth and the moon.
The project was led by Zuo Tao of the 38th research institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), a major defence contractor in Hefei, Anhui province. The team revealed part of the radar design in a paper published in the Chinese peer-reviewed journal Cryogenics & Superconductivity on January 16.
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Traditional radar works by picking up microwaves that come back after hitting a target. As the target gets further away, more powerful microwaves are needed.