arXiv subjects

Zeki C. Seskir

Publications and source records attributed to Zeki C. Seskir.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

ELSA as an asset to the EU Quantum Act: A position paper

Europe's expertise in the ethical, legal, and social aspects (ELSA) of emerging technologies is a strategic asset for the successful and sovereign development of quantum technologies. In this position paper, we argue that this expertise should become a central part of the upcoming EU Quantum Act. At a time when quantum technologies are becoming more powerful, economically relevant, and geopolitically contested, European policy should not reduce societal considerations to risk assessment and ex-post regulation. Instead, ELSA expertise can translate European values into technological practices, governance structures, and concrete policy measures, thereby supporting a development which is responsible, socially robust, and competitive. Taking inspiration from the role of concept cars, we present eight aspirational ELSA recommendations that demonstrate what a distinctly European approach to quantum technologies could offer. These recommendations include setting European policy targets as quantum moonshots, embedding European values, addressing the motivations of younger generations, strengthening international cooperation, developing applications globally and inclusively, integrating continuous technology assessment, creating shared sociotechnical repositories, and shaping a European narrative for quantum technologies. Together, we show that ELSA is not only about mitigating risks. It can also amplify benefits, increase legitimacy and societal acceptance, support economic prosperity, and contribute to a truly sovereign European quantum future.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2026

Resource Letter QIE-1: Research in quantum information education

In celebration of the 2025 UN International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, this Resource Letter surveys the rapidly-growing field of scholarship in quantum information science and engineering (QISE) education. It is primarily written as a guide for educators wishing to get started teaching QISE using research-based teaching methods, as well as for discipline-based education research (DBER) practitioners looking to get started in this field. Topics covered include scoping the field of QISE education, research into student reasoning in QISE, research-based and research-inspired curricular materials from the high school to graduate level, research-based assessments, simulation and gamification tools, and tools for incorporating discussion of the societal and ethical implications of quantum technologies into the classroom.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2026

Quantum Protocols for Time Synchronisation and Distribution: A Critical Assessment

Precise time synchronisation underpins critical infrastructure from telecommunications and financial markets to power grids and scientific metrology. Several families of quantum protocols have been proposed and demonstrated for clock synchronisation and time distribution, exploiting entangled photon pairs, quantum key distribution (QKD) correlations, Hong-Ou-Mandel interference, and entangled clock networks. We critically assess these approaches, reviewing the main quantum time synchronisation (QTS) protocol families, quantifying the gap between theory and experiment, and identifying practical bottlenecks in sources, detectors, and channels. We survey the classical timing landscape from Network Time Protocol (NTP) and GPS to laboratory-grade optical frequency transfer, and compare quantum and classical methods at equivalent maturity. We examine use cases including financial trading, power grids, telecommunications, scientific metrology, and military applications, evaluating whether quantum timing offers a realistic advantage. We show that time transfer, not clock performance, is now the bottleneck for distributed optical timekeeping: the best demonstrated synchronisation uncertainty (2.46~ps) falls two to three orders of magnitude short of what optical clocks with fractional frequency uncertainties of $10^{-18}$--$10^{-19}$ require. Our assessment is that quantum time synchronisation will not replace classical methods for most applications in the near-to-medium future. Its near-term value lies in physical-layer security against timing manipulation and integration with quantum communication networks, while closing the synchronisation gap for scientific metrology remains the most critical open challenge.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Current and Future Directions for Responsible Quantum Technologies: A ResQT Community Perspective

Quantum technologies (QT) are advancing rapidly, promising advancements across a wide spectrum of applications but also raising significant ethical, societal, and geopolitical impacts, including dual-use capabilities, varying levels of access, and impending quantum divide(s). To address these, the Responsible Quantum Technologies (ResQT) community was established to share knowledge, perspectives, and best practices across various disciplines. Its mission is to ensure QT developments align with ethical principles, promote equity, and mitigate unintended consequences. Initial progress has been made, as scholars and policymakers increasingly recognize principles of responsible QT. However, more widespread dissemination is needed, and as QT matures, so must responsible QT. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the ResQT community's current work and states necessary future directions. Drawing on historical lessons from artificial intelligence and nanotechnology, actions targeting the quantum divide(s) are addressed, including the implementation of responsible research and innovation, fostering wider stakeholder engagement, and sustainable development. These actions aim to build trust and engagement, facilitating the participatory and responsible development of QT. The ResQT community advocates that responsible QT should be an integral part of quantum development rather than an afterthought so that quantum technologies evolve toward a future that is technologically advanced and beneficial for all.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2025

Quantum Internet, Governance, Trust, and the Promise of Secure Communication: On building a Quantum Internet that will be used

The development of quantum technologies has been accelerating in the last decade, turning them into emerging technologies that need explicit attention by decision-makers at national funding agencies, companies and governments. In this paper we consider the governance of quantum internet, a new type of communication network developed for the promise that it can deliver inherently secure communication solely through its technical design. This paper gives a general analysis of the functions quantum internet offer, and then challenges this proposition by arguing that trust, an essential precondition for users to adopt this technology, cannot be guaranteed by technical features alone. Instead, trust is fundamentally a social phenomenon, shaped by how quantum internet is governed, operated, and regulated. Therefore, the ultimate success of quantum internet in fulfilling its promise of secure communication will depend not just on its technical hardware and software but also on the policies and frameworks for running these capacities, and on the public trust in those policies and frameworks. With this argument we arrive at recommendations to decision-makers for developing quantum internet and its governance in a way that quantum internet that can be trusted for its promised capacities.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Navigating the Quantum Divide(s)

This article explores the potential divides from emerging quantum technologies (QT) on society, covering impacts on science, technology, geopolitics, and societal structures. We aim to challenge the concept of a single "quantum divide" by offering a comprehensive view. We propose four divides: in science, technologies, between countries, and within societies. The "Quantum Divide in Science" highlights gaps among scientists and access inequalities in research communities. The second divide, "Quantum Divide in Technologies through Path-dependency," looks at technology adoption processes. The "Quantum Divide between Countries" examines adoption reasons and outcomes across countries with varying development levels. Lastly, the "Quantum Divide within Societies" addresses societal implications, one of the most discussed in literature. We propose directions to navigate these divides, noting their interconnectedness and impact on innovation ecosystems. This study guides those interested in the quantum divide, navigation strategies, and QT's influence on scientific, technological, international, and societal institutions.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2023

Introducing a Research Program for Quantum Humanities: Theoretical Implications

Quantum computing is a new form of computing that is based on the principles of quantum mechanics. It has the potential to revolutionize many fields, including the humanities and social sciences. The idea behind quantum humanities is to explore the potential of quantum computing to answer new questions in these fields, as well as to consider the potential societal impacts of this technology. This paper proposes a research program for quantum humanities, which includes the application of quantum algorithms to humanities and social science research, the reflection on the methods and techniques of quantum computing, and the evaluation of its potential societal implications. This research program aims to define the field of quantum humanities and to establish it as a meaningful part of the humanities and social sciences.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2023

Introducing a Research Program for Quantum Humanities: Applications

Quantum computing is a rapidly developing field in the second wave of quantum development, with the potential to revolutionize a wide range of industries and fields of study. As the capabilities of quantum computers continue to advance, they have the potential to significantly impact society and the way we live, work, and think. This makes it important for scholars from a variety of disciplines to come together and consider the implications of these technologies. How this was done has already been explained and published in an abstract way in a joint research paper. But how exactly these abstract theoretical approaches come into an implementation could not be shown so far. The present article shows exactly this.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2022

Democratization of Quantum Technologies

As quantum technologies (QT) advance, their potential impact on and relation with society has been developing into an important issue for exploration. In this paper, we investigate the topic of democratization in the context of QT, particularly quantum computing. The paper contains three main sections. First, we briefly introduce different theories of democracy (participatory, representative, and deliberative) and how the concept of democratization can be formulated with respect to whether democracy is taken as an intrinsic or instrumental value. Second, we give an overview of how the concept of democratization is used in the QT field. Democratization is mainly adopted by companies working on quantum computing and used in a very narrow understanding of the concept. Third, we explore various narratives and counter-narratives concerning democratization in QT. Finally, we explore the general efforts of democratization in QT such as different forms of access, formation of grassroot communities and special interest groups, the emerging culture of manifesto writing, and how these can be located within the different theories of democracy. In conclusion, we argue that although the ongoing efforts in the democratization of QT are necessary steps towards the democratization of this set of emerging technologies, they should not be accepted as sufficient to argue that QT is a democratized field. We argue that more reflexivity and responsiveness regarding the narratives and actions adopted by the actors in the QT field, and making the underlying assumptions of ongoing efforts on democratization of QT explicit, can result in a better technology for society.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2022

Quantum Games and Interactive Tools for Quantum Technologies Outreach and Education

In this article, we provide an extensive overview of a wide range of quantum games and interactive tools that have been employed by the community in recent years. The paper presents selected tools, as described by their developers. The list includes Hello Quantum, Hello Qiskit, Particle in a Box, Psi and Delta, QPlayLearn, Virtual Lab by Quantum Flytrap, Quantum Odyssey, ScienceAtHome, and The Virtual Quantum Optics Laboratory. Additionally, we present events for quantum game development: hackathons, game jams, and semester projects. Furthermore, we discuss the Quantum Technologies Education for Everyone (QUTE4E) pilot project, which illustrates an effective integration of these interactive tools with quantum outreach and education activities. Finally, we aim at providing guidelines for incorporating quantum games and interactive tools in pedagogic materials to make quantum technologies more accessible for a wider population.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2020

The Landscape of Academic Literature in Quantum Technologies

In this study, we investigated the academic literature on quantum technologies (QT) using bibliometric tools. We used a set of 49,823 articles obtained from the Web of Science (WoS) database using a search query constructed through expert opinion. Analysis of this revealed that QT is deeply rooted in physics, and the majority of the articles are published in physics journals. Keyword analysis revealed that the literature could be clustered into three distinct sets, which are (i) quantum communication/cryptography, (ii) quantum computation, and (iii) physical realizations of quantum systems. We performed a burst analysis that showed the emergence and fading away of certain key concepts in the literature. This is followed by co-citation analysis on the highly cited articles provided by the WoS, using these we devised a set of core corpus of 34 publications. Comparing the most highly cited articles in this set with respect to the initial set we found that there is a clear difference in most cited subjects. Finally, we performed co-citation analyses on country and organization levels to find the central nodes in the literature. Overall, the analyses of the datasets allowed us to cluster the literature into three distinct sets, construct the core corpus of the academic literature in QT, and to identify the key players on country and organization levels, thus offering insight into the current state of the field. Search queries and access to figures are provided in the appendix.

cs.DL↗