The Sandia National Laboratories have made a huge leap towards making GPS-free navigation a reality. This would be made possible with a breakthrough in quantum sensing. The model is so precise that it is being touted as the “mother of all sensors”.
This is a huge development because it would decrease the US’ dependency on GPS navigation. With electric jamming and spoofing becoming common in modern warfare this can be a game changer. “Accurate navigation becomes a challenge in real-world scenarios when GPS signals are unavailable,” said Sandia scientist Jongmin Lee.
The scientists have accomplished atom interferometry by effectively using silicon photonic microchip components. An extremely accurate quantum sensing method for measuring acceleration and angular velocity is atom interferometry. “By harnessing the principles of quantum mechanics, these advanced sensors provide unparalleled accuracy in measuring acceleration and angular velocity, enabling precise navigation even in GPS-denied areas,” remarked Lee.
Modulators previously used to be huge and also produced unwanted sidebands. Sandia has done two very important things, one reduced the size of the modulators and second, gotten rid of unwanted sidebars. “Sandia’s suppressed-carrier, single-sideband modulator reduces these sidebands by an unprecedented 47.8 decibels — a measure often used to describe sound intensity but also applicable to light intensity — resulting in a nearly 100,000-fold drop,” stated the researchers in the press release.
The sensors require less space, weight, and power thanks to the new modulator and other innovations including a consolidated apparatus and a reduced vacuum chamber. “We have drastically improved the performance compared to what’s out there,” expressed Sandia scientist Ashok Kodigala.
Cost has also been a major hurdle in deploying quantum navigation devices. “Just one full-size single-sideband modulator, a commercially available one, is more than $10,000,” Lee highlighted.
Sandia has developed a novel solution that reduces costs by miniaturizing components onto silicon photonic chips.. “We can make hundreds of modulators on a single 8-inch wafer and even more on a 12-inch wafer,” commented Kodigala. These chips can be mass-produced using the same processes as computer chips, making them significantly more affordable and accessible.
Although navigation is the mainstay, this technology has huge potential. As discussed in the beginning it has the potential to improve LIDAR systems, locate subterranean cavities and resources, advance quantum computing, and transform optical communications.
As they continue to advance in miniaturization, the Sandia team is aggressively investigating these various uses. Their goal is to bridge the gap between fundamental research and industrial development by converting atom interferometers into a small quantum compass.