中国成功发射全球首颗量子通信卫星(双语)

屈联西

　　China launched the world’s first quantum communications satellite (量子通信卫星) from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (酒泉卫星发射中心) on August 16。 It was a major step in the country’s attempt to be in a leading position in quantum research， which could lead to new， completely secure methods of transmitting information。
　　8月16日，中国在酒泉卫星发射中心发射了世界上第一颗量子通信卫星。这是本国在量子研究试图占据领先地位的重要一步，并引导了全新且绝对安全的信息传输方式。
　　The 600-kilogram satellite is nicknamed Micius (墨子)， a Chinese philosopher and scientist in the fifth century B.C。 It is expected to circle the earth every 90 minutes after entering orbit (轨道) at an altitude of about 500 kilometers。 Researchers hope to use the satellite to send communications from space to earth and establish secure transmissions between two ground sites。 China has previously announced the construction of a quantum link between Beijing and Shanghai to be used by government agencies and banks。
　　这颗600千克重的卫星称为“墨子”——中国公元前15世纪的哲学家和科学家。在进入500千米高的轨道后，每90分钟绕地球一次。研究者们希望利用这个卫星将通信从太空发送至地球，并且在两处地面站之间建立安全的传播。中国此前宣布在北京和上海之间建造用于政府机关和银行使用的量子链。
　　Traditional communications satellites send signals using radio waves while a quantum communications satellite uses a crystal (结晶体)。 The crystal produces a pair of entangled photons (互相纠缠的光子)。 They remain entangled even if one is transmitted over a large distance。 It is hence impossible to wiretap (窃听) or crack the information transmitted through it。
　　传统通信卫星使用无线电波来发送信号，然而量子通信卫星使用的是结晶体。这种结晶体会产生一对互相纠缠的光子。即使其中一个被传输了一长段距离，他们始终保持纠缠。因此想要窃听或者断裂通过这种结晶体传输的信息是不可能的。
　　Cybersecurity (网络安全) has been a major focus in recent years around the world in the wake of Edward Snowden’s (爱德华•斯诺登) revelations of widespread surveillance (监视) by the U.S。 Quantum messaging could become a major defense against hackers and have applications ranging from military and government communications to online shopping。
　　在爱德华•斯诺登揭发了美国实行了广泛的监视之后，网络安全已经成为了近年来全世界的一个重要焦点。量子信息传送能成为对黑客的主要防御方式，从军事与政府通讯到在线购物都有所应用。
　　Scientists and security experts in many countries are studying the quantum technology。 The biggest challenge is being able to accurately orient the satellite to a location on Earth where it can send and receive data without being affected by any disturbances in Earth’s atmosphere。
　　许多国家的科学家和安全专家正在研究量子技术。最大的挑战是精确地定位卫星，实现其在地球上某处能够发送和接收数据而不受任何地球大气的干扰。
　　China has spent years researching into quantum technology and developing the satellite and other uses for it。 The launch is a major triumph for the country。 Pan Jianwei (潘建伟)， chief scientist on the satellite project， said the launch proved China was no longer a follower in information technology， but “one of the leaders guiding future IT achievements。 ”
　　中国已在量子科技研究以及该科技在卫星与其他用途上的发展投入了多年努力。这次发射是我国的重大成功。此次卫星项目中的首席科学家潘建伟称这次发射证明了中国不再是信息技术领域的追随者，而是“引领未来IT发展的领军者之一”。 
　　来源：芝士英语
　　责任编辑：李然

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