QUASENS (BMBF)
PROJECT PARTNER:
- MENLO SYSTEMS GMBH | Planegg, Germany
- FERDINAND-BRAUN-INSTITUT GGMBH, LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FÜR HOCHFREQUENZTECHNIK | Berlin, Germany
- HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITÄT ZU BERLIN | Berlin, Germany
- PHYSIKALISCH-TECHNISCHE BUNDESANSTALT (PTB) | Braunschweig, Germany
- QUBIG GMBH | Munich, Germany
- LAYERTEC GMBH | Mellingen, Germany
- VACOM VAKUUM KOMPONENTEN & MESSTECHNIK GMBH | Großlöblichau, Germany
ASSOCIATE PARTNER:
- DEUTSCHE TELEKOM TECHNIK GMBH | Bremen, Germany
Highly compact optical clock based on atomic interferometry
QUBIG is participating in a development project supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The goal of the joint project QUASENS is to develop an ultra-stable, automated and user-friendly atom-interferometry platform, which will be used for the realisation in an optical atomic clock with an unprecedented form factor.
MOTIVATION
Quantum technologies are about to revolutionize science, technology and society. In particular, quantum technology 2.0 opens up many new possibilities. As a prime example of this technology family, atomic interferometers allow the temporal evolution of a quantum mechanical superposition state to be used for measurement purposes. The energy differences of the states involved can find application as a high-precision clock of an optical clock, playing a crucial role in communication, synchronization and satellite navigation. On the other hand, atomic interferometers are also suitable for extremely sensitive measurements of electric and magnetic fields and inertial forces for navigation and geophysics.
GOAL AND APPROACH
The QUASENS consortium will develop a highly compact optical clock based on atom interferometry on a thermal strontium atom beam. This atomic clock thus does not require laser cooling or trap technology. The optical transition frequency of the entangled state will be divided by a frequency comb into a usable frequency in the radio wave range, so that the output clock is compatible with established radio frequency clocks.
INNOVATION AND PERSPECTIVES
On the one hand, this approach allows an improvement in clock stability compared to radio frequency clocks, but it is much less complex than optical grating and ion clocks. The QUASENS clock can thus become compact and stable enough for applications outside the laboratory. At the same time, the atomic interferometer is adaptable as a quantum sensor. The demonstrator developed is to be further developed into a marketable product in the future, thus making optical clock and quantum sensor technology accessible to a wide range of users in science and industry.
