We are developing an atom interferometer that measures horizontal accelerations to form a component of a quantum inertial measurement unit. Benefitting from the inherent stability of atom interferometry, this points to a navigation system that offers long-term accuracy without recourse to GPS. To aid compactness and transportability, the sub-components of the quantum sensor are mounted in a 19-inch rack. This includes an optical system of two titanium-sapphire lasers that delivers all of the optical pulses required to operate a highly sensitive atom interferometer using 87Rb atoms. Active compensation systems that allow operation of the quantum sensor in the noisy environment of a moving vehicle are described. Finally, we give an account of recent field trials on a variety of test platforms.
M Squared is developing quantum sensors for quantum gravimetry and inertial navigation. Using atom interferometry, each promises performance advantages over their classical counterparts. Each system is designed for use in the challenging operational environment of a moving platform, and incorporates active systems that compensate for the effects of environmental noise. Each sensor is presented along with a performance evaluation in laboratory settings and in field trials. An account is also given on how M Squared laser systems are being used to enable some of the world’s most advanced precision metrology experiments.
Quantum computing architectures where atom-laser interactions form the basis of qubit manipulation, such as trapped ion and Rydberg systems, are leading the progress towards universal quantum computation. M Squared is developing many of the advanced laser systems that are underpinning this progress, including systems that are designed to implement quantum logic gates with optical and hyperfine qubits with high fidelity. High power systems that are enabling the scaling of qubit numbers are also being developed. These systems are described, along with an account of how the requirements of lasers for quantum computing experiments are expected to evolve in the future.
An ultrafast semiconductor disk laser (SDL) and a single frequency continuous SDL, respectively named Dragonfly and Infinite are currently under development at M Squared lasers with the aim of offering an alternative to Titanium-sapphire based systems. Such SDLs-based systems have the potential to be easy-to-use, low-cost and maintenance free tools for markets including nonlinear microscopy and quantum technologies.
Introducing the SDLs technology into the nonlinear microscopy market requires reproducing the performances of currently employed systems: pulses with 1-W average power, duration below 200fs and a typical repetition rate of 80MHz. Such a low repetition rate is particularly challenging for SDLs which are limited by their short carrier lifetime and preferably operate at GHz repetition rates. With Dragonfly, a repetition rate of 200 MHz has been found as a good compromise to balance the mode-locking instabilities while reducing the repetition rate. By adding external pulse compression and spectral broadening stages, pulses as short as 130fs and an average power of 0.85W have been achieved.
Developing low-footprint, single-frequency narrow-linewidth CW SDLs could enable quantum technologies to move from the lab to successful commercialisation. In this context, we have been developing a variant of the Infinite system suitable for Sr atom cooling. About 1W and a sub-MHz linewidth at 461nm are required. As direct emission is not an option, an SDL emitting at 922nm followed by an M Squared Lasers SolTiS ECD-X doubler is currently under development. The SDL oscillator delivered > 1W at 922nm with an RMS frequency noise < 150kHz.
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