Arkansas Space Grant Consortium of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced its approval of a grant research proposal by Dr. Khalil Dajani, chair and professor of the Mathematics and Computer Science Department at Southern Arkansas University. The consortium made the announcement during its annual Feb. 15 meeting in Little Rock.
Dajani’s proposal was among others submitted by faculty from engineering and computer science schools of Arkansas educational institutions. Dr. Dajani’s project, entitled “Applications of Quantum Computation Algorithms for Network Communications and Space-based Devices,” received high praise and was unanimously approved for funding, according to Dr. Abdel Bachri, associate professor of physics, who was in attendance.
According to Dajani, the purpose of this project is to explore and provide an overview of the significance of quantum information processing, and then exploit the advantages of quantum processing techniques. The proposed project focuses on the development and implementation of quantum algorithms that can be utilized in cyber research for advanced future wireless and communication used in space-based devices and networks.
“This research is of unique interest to NASA because of the potential of extending quantum communication to a space environment while allowing for absolutely secure communication on the global scale” said Dajani.
This project also will be invaluable for SAU researchers to develop and implement cyber security communication algorithms for aerospace-related research, and the provision of indispensable support for faculty travel and student stipends, as well as the opportunity to network with other Arkansas institutions for future NASA EPSCoR collaborative research projects. This Research Infrastructure project will prove to be essential in obtaining preliminary results for further pursuit of extramural funding from other federal agencies.
“This academic venture will not only promote research, but also continue to make SAU one of the very active leaders in that organization,” said Dajani.