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The world’s navigation system is mainly based on GPS technology. From our smartphones to navigation systems used by airplanes and ships, we are heavily reliant on GPS systems in order to navigate our world. However, GPS signals can be disrupted, something that is a major disadvantage, especially when military uses are considered.
Now, scientists are attempting to create an accurate motion sensor that could minimize the need for GPS technology. Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories were able to use silicon photonic microchip components to perform atom interferometry, a quantum sensing technique that is an extremely precise way of measuring acceleration. This is an important step towards creating a quantum compass that can be used instead of GPS. The team’s findings were published in the journal Science Advances.
One major obstacle the team had to face was size. The apparatus typically required for this process takes up a very large area (several rooms wide). However, the team has been able to find unique ways to reduce its size, weight, and power requirements. For example, a large vacuum pump has been replaced with a fist-sized vacuum chamber.
Another major factor is the issue of cost. Usually, every atom interferometer needs a laser system that requires a highly expensive modulator. However, by shrinking these parts onto small silicon photonic chips, the cost of production has dropped significantly. Additionally, Sandia’s new microchip-sized laser modulator, which is tough enough for heavy vibrations, dramatically improves precision by cutting unwanted noise by nearly 100,000 times.
As the technology nears deployment, the team is looking into additional applications beyond navigation. According to TechXplore, finding underground cavities and resources by detecting subtle changes in Earth’s gravitational field are among those, as well as finding potential uses for the optical components they developed, such as the modulator, in LIDAR, quantum computing, and optical communications.
Sandia’s efforts to refine atom interferometers for GPS-denied navigation are poised to transform cutting-edge research into practical, commercially viable technology, bridging the gap between academia and industry.
