'PAINTS: Commercialisation of a Practical Atom Interferometer for Sensing

在原子干涉仪中，原子充当微小的测试质量，对重力和运动很敏感。这是水量子技术，因为它依赖于原子之间的相互干扰，这是波-粒子二元性的表现，即物质在某些情况下可以表现为波的事实；正是这种技术的量子本质赋予了它极大的敏感性。该项目将首次在英国的商业环境中演示原子干涉仪。M Squared激光在激光工程和系统集成方面的专业知识将与伯明翰大学的卓越学术能力相结合，创建一个能够交付所提议的商业产品的协作团队。重力传感器使人们能够看到物质和地面以下的情况。可以设想在许多部门应用，从探测新的石油和天然气矿藏，勘测未知的地下基础设施，如管道和电缆，到监测地下水位。

In an atom interferometer, the atoms act as miniature test masses and are sensitive to gravity and motion. This is aquantum technology as it relies on the interference of the atoms with each other, a manifestation of wave-particle duality,i.e. the fact that matter can behave like a wave under certain circumstances; it is the quantum nature of the technique thataffords it great sensitivity. This project will, for the first time, demonstrate an atom interferometer in a UK commercialenvironment. The expertise of M Squared Lasers in laser engineering and system integration will be combined with theacademic excellence of the University of Birmingham to create a collaborative team capable of delivering the proposedcommercial product. Gravitational sensors enable one to see through matter and below the ground. Applications can beenvisaged in many sectors, from the detection of new oil and gas deposits, surveying unknown underground infrastructuresuch as pipes and cables, to monitoring the water table.