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Taking atom interferometric quantum sensors from the laboratory to real-world applications

An Author Correction to this article was published on 03 November 2021

This article has been updated

Abstract

Since the first proof-of-principle experiments over 25 years ago, atom interferometry has matured to a versatile tool that can be used in fundamental research in particle physics, general relativity and cosmology. At the same time, atom interferometers are currently moving out of the laboratory to be used as ultraprecise quantum sensors in metrology, geophysics, space, civil engineering, oil and minerals exploration, and navigation. This Perspective discusses the associated scientific and technological challenges and highlights recent advances.

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Fig. 1: Building blocks of an atom interferometer and its use as a gravity sensor.
Fig. 2: A roadmap for the development of portable quantum sensors.
Fig. 3: Modified interferometer schemes.
Fig. 4: Examples of portable atom interferometers.

Change history

  • 09 December 2019

    Updated Philippe Bouyer’s address from “Institut d’Optique Graduate School (IOGS), University of Bordeaux, Talence Cedex, France” to “CNRS, Institut d’Optique Graduate School (IOGS), University of Bordeaux, Talence Cedex, France”.

  • 03 November 2021

    A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-021-00396-1

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank our co-workers and collaborators for their long-term efforts and their support. Moreover, we have benefited enormously from many discussions with our colleagues who share our love of this field. K.B., M.H. and J.V. acknowledge funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through grants EP/M013294 (UK National Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology) and EP/R002525/1 (CASPA), the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) through contract DSTLX-1000095040 and Innovate UK through the Gravity Pioneer grant 104613. P.B. and G.C. acknowledge funding from Agence Nationale de la Recherche and the Délégation Générale de l’Armement under grant “HYBRIDQUANTA” no. ANR-17-ASTR-0025-01, grant “TAIOL” no. ANR-18-QUAN-00L5-02 and grant “EOSBECMR” no. ANR-18-CE91-0003-01, the European Space Agency, IFRAF (Institut Francilien de Recherche sur les Atomes Froids), the action spécifique GRAM (Gravitation, Relativité, Astronomie et Métrologie) and Conseil Régional de Nouvelle-Aquitaine for the Excellence Chair. Hybrid navigation systems are the result of a joint laboratory between iXBlue and LP2N. E.R. and C.S. acknowledge financial support by the CRC 1227 DQmat, the CRC 1128 geo-Q, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft under the German Excellence Strategy (EXC-2123-B2), the German Space Agency (DLR) with funds provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) due to an enactment of the German Bundestag under grant nos. DLR 50WM1952, 50WP1700, 50WM1431 and “Niedersächsisches Vorab” through “Förderung von Wissenschaft und Technik in Forschung und Lehre” for the initial funding of research in the new DLR-SI Institute, and through the “Quantum and Nanometrology (QUANOMET)” initiative within the project QT3. The work of W.P.S. and A.R. is supported by the DLR with funds provided by the BMWi due to an enactment of the German Bundestag under grant nos. DLR50WM1331-1137, 50WM1556 (QUANTUS IV) and 50WM1641. Moreover, W.P.S. is grateful to Texas A&M University for a Faculty Fellowship at the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study and to Texas A&M AgriLife Research for the support of this work. The research of IQST is financially supported by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg.

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The original online version of this article was revised: In the original version of this article, the second affiliation of Albert Roura was missing. The second affiliation German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany has now been added.

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Bongs, K., Holynski, M., Vovrosh, J. et al. Taking atom interferometric quantum sensors from the laboratory to real-world applications. Nat Rev Phys 1, 731–739 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-019-0117-4

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