GPS-less navigation with quantum compass inches closer

Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories have built a high-performance silicon photonic modulator that could pave the way for a ‘quantum compass.’ The ability of such a device to perform ultra-precise measurements of acceleration and angular velocity would enable navigation without GPS signals.

A quantum compass – or, more precisely, a quantum inertial measurement unit – requires six so-called atom interferometers. Typically these sensor systems are big enough to fill a small room, but the Sandia researchers found a way to consolidate several components into a much smaller apparatus. This was the result of going for a particular light-based variety of the atom interferometer and cramming different parts of a key component – the modulator – onto a silicon photonic chip.

The result is not only an atom interferometer that’s a thousand times more sensitive than what’s available today, but it’s also much less costly to make. The ultimate goal of the Sandia team is to leverage these characteristics and build a commercially viable quantum compass.