| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/M508238/1 |
| Title: |
FreezeRay (Compact laser cooled cold atom source) |
| Principal Investigator: |
Boyer, Dr V |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Organisation: |
University of Birmingham |
| Scheme: |
Technology Programme |
| Starts: |
01 July 2015 |
Ends: |
30 September 2016 |
Value (£): |
35,834
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
Following the Nobel Prize winning discovery that lasers can cool atoms to extremely low temperatures there has been
extensive research into potential applications. Laboratory experiments with cold atoms have realised a step change of
approximately 1000 times improvement in both inertial navigation and in timing over conventional atomic clocks. These
Quantum Technologies (QT) are emerging to form a new market that will revolutionise many aspects of our daily lives. Cold
atom based QT devices are now forming the next generation of sensing equipment, including atomic clocks (satellite-free
navigation, finance and power synchronisation), gravimeters (military, underground and sub-surface detection) and secure
communications (banking and information exchange).
Each QT device will require a source of cold atoms. With a conventional approach the sub-systems required for producing
cold atom clouds typically occupy a large fraction of a laboratory. The creation and subsequent integration of these subsystems
also represents a significant time commitment, with experiments often requiring several months to a year before
achieving a sufficiently optimised cloud.
The excessive size and complexity of conventional systems will certainly hinder QT devices from exploring their complete
market potential. Achieving this will require a drastic improvement in the mobility of such systems, requiring them to
become smaller and more robust. This will facilitate QT devices becoming portable, allowing them to leave the laboratory
setting and to become technology rather than research apparatus. Furthermore, for QT devices to impact upon a diverse
range of markets it is necessary to commercialise and support the creation of a supply chain, driving down costs and
increasing reliability.
The aim of this project is to enable this through development of an "all-in-one" unit, the FreezeRay, which will be able to
function as the core engine for a variety of cold atom experiments. This will be achieved through advancement of a novel
all-fibre based laser system and the development of a small form factor vacuum system with limited pumping dependence.
The resulting integrated package will then form the centre point for numerous follow on QT devices or experiments.
To develop the FreezeRay engine we have formed a consortium of two industrial and one academic partners. The
University of Birmingham, Cold atoms group possesses a strong background in miniaturisation of cold atom systems,
through novel developments in vacuum and laser systems. UoB will apply their knowledge to the system design phase,
ensuring the design specifications will provide a cold atom source suitable for integration into QT devices. Gooch &
Housego will apply their world leading expertise in photonics to develop a fully fibre based laser system alongside the
control and stabilisation electronics. The laser system will employ frequency doubling of a telecom laser source. This allows
much of the system to be based upon telecom technology, reducing cost and improving reliability. e2v will use their strong
background in the development of small, self-contained vacuum cells to create a novel and compact vacuum system which
they will then integrate with the laser system. Following completion of the unit, UoB will characterise and evaluate the
system.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.bham.ac.uk |