Discovery Based Physics Learning for Future Leaders!

“But how much quantum computing power do we need to break 128-bit RSA?”, a student questioned me with innate curiosity. This seems like quite a complex question, with countless nuances and dependencies. But as I considered the student’s question, I had to remind myself that the purpose of this course was not to discuss the deep intricacies of the physics. Instead, it was to provide students with the practical understanding of physics concepts, so they would be able to make scientifically informed decisions.

After reflecting for a moment, I responded, “I’m sure there’s no one answer because there are so many factors to consider, and I’m not an expert that can delve into all of them. But according to some back-of-the-envelope calculations I did from the assumptions used in a research paper I skimmed, between 6,000 and 60,000 qubits should be required to break 128-bit RSA, which is widely used on the Internet for secure data transmission. We’re nowhere close currently, since Google’s 72-qubit chip is the largest created, as of now.” Then I proceeded with discussing the discussion question for that day, “How reasonable is it to be scared of Internet communication becoming obsolete soon?”

Looking back, handling such a question was not something I had expected to be able to do, when I started as a graduate student instructor (GSI) for the “Physics & Technology for Future Presidents” course in January 2018. The course was created by renowned scientist Professor Richard Muller and twice voted “Best…