Researchers have used silicon photonic microchip components to perform a quantum sensing technique called atom interferometry, an ultra-precise way of measuring acceleration. It is the latest milestone toward developing a kind of quantum compass for navigation when GPS signals are unavailable.
Peel apart a smartphone, fitness tracker or virtual reality headset, and inside you'll find a tiny motion sensor tracking its position and movement. Bigger, more expensive versions of the same technology, about the size of a grapefruit and a thousand times more accurate, help navigate ships, airplanes and other vehicles with GPS assistance.
The team published its findings and introduced a new high-performance silicon photonic modulator -- a device that controls light on a microchip -- as the cover story in the journalThe research was supported by Sandia's Laboratory Directed Research and Development program. It took place, in part, at the National Security Photonics Center, a collaborative research center developing integrated photonics solutions for complex problems in the national security sector.
The new modulator is the centerpiece of a laser system on a microchip. Rugged enough to handle heavy vibrations, it would replace a conventional laser system typically the size of a refrigerator. And since they can be manufactured using the same process as virtually all computer chips,"This sophisticated four-channel component, including additional custom features, can be mass-produced at a much lower cost compared to today's commercial alternatives, enabling the production of quantum inertial measurement units at a reduced cost," Lee said.
These teams collaborate at Sandia's Microsystems Engineering, Science and Applications complex, where researchers design, produce and test chips for national security applications. The National Security Photonics Center collaborates with industry, small businesses, academia and government agencies to develop new technologies and help launch new products. Sandia has hundreds of issued patents and dozens more in prosecution that support its mission.Michael Gehl, a Sandia scientist who works with silicon photonics, shares the same passion."It's great to see our photonics chips being used for real-world applications," he said.
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