Articles tagged with "precision-measurement"
Entangled atomic clouds separated in space boost measurement precision
Researchers have demonstrated a novel quantum measurement technique that uses entangled atomic clouds separated in space to enhance precision in sensing spatial variations of physical fields. Traditionally, quantum noise and uncertainty limit the accuracy of measurements at very small scales, especially when probing how quantities like electromagnetic fields change across different locations. Previous entanglement-based improvements were confined to atoms kept together in a single location, restricting measurements to one point. This study overcame that limitation by first entangling a single ultracold atomic cloud and then dividing it into two or three spatially separated clouds, preserving the entanglement despite the separation. This approach enabled the atomic clouds to act as a single quantum system, reducing quantum uncertainty and common disturbances across all clouds. The experiment involved atoms cooled to near absolute zero, where their spins respond sensitively to electromagnetic fields. By distributing entangled atoms across multiple locations, the researchers could measure spatial variations in the field with greater accuracy than previously possible. They also developed the theoretical framework to describe and optimize such multi
quantum-measurementatomic-cloudsentanglementprecision-measurementquantum-physicsultracold-atomsquantum-sensorsUS builds laser lab for world's largest vertical atom interferometer
The US Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) has completed construction of a specialized laser laboratory to support the MAGIS-100 experiment, which features the world’s largest vertical atom interferometer. This 328-foot (100-meter) interferometer will use ultra-cold strontium atom clouds and precision laser pulses to investigate ultralight dark matter, a mysterious form of matter that constitutes about 85% of the universe’s mass but has never been directly observed. The interferometer operates by splitting and recombining atom clouds, detecting interference patterns that reveal tiny disturbances in gravitational fields potentially caused by interactions between dark matter particles, such as axions, and ordinary matter. MAGIS-100 is a collaborative effort involving Fermilab, Stanford University, Northwestern University, and other US and UK institutions. The experiment is housed in a deep shaft previously used for underground access, and the newly completed laser lab will accommodate the high-power laser systems essential for its operation. Researchers
energylaser-technologyatom-interferometerdark-matter-researchprecision-measurementFermilabquantum-sensorsNew laser system reveals hidden wear inside tank, artillery barrels
A US company, Laser Techniques Co. LLC, has developed the Bore Erosion Measurement and Inspection System (BEMIS), a laser-based tool that significantly improves how militaries inspect wear inside tank barrels and heavy artillery. BEMIS uses laser profilometry to create detailed 3D maps of gun bores with sub-millimeter precision, detecting erosion, corrosion, and fatigue that traditional mechanical or visual inspections often miss. The system scans the full length and circumference of barrels quickly—such as a 76 mm naval gun in about 23 minutes—and outputs data in multiple formats for integration into digital maintenance records. This enables armed forces to make maintenance decisions based on precise, real data rather than estimates. BEMIS is now standard at several US Army facilities and used by the US Navy, major defense contractors, and over 20 countries worldwide, including the UK, Germany, Japan, and Ukraine. Notably, Ukrainian operators have leveraged BEMIS to extend barrel life beyond traditional limits amid wart
laser-technologymilitary-inspectionmaterials-wear-detectionprecision-measurementmaintenance-technologydefense-technology3D-mappingWorld's first nuclear clock to probe fine-structure constant change
A team of researchers at Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) has demonstrated that the world’s first nuclear clock, developed in 2024 using thorium nuclear transition technology, can be used to test whether the fine-structure constant changes over time. The fine-structure constant, approximately 1/137, is a fundamental dimensionless value that quantifies the strength of electromagnetic interactions, governing how light interacts with matter and influencing the forces that hold atoms together. If this constant were found to vary, it would challenge the long-held assumption that the laws of physics are fixed and universal. Unlike traditional atomic clocks that rely on electron behavior, the nuclear clock measures energy transitions within the atomic nucleus itself. The thorium nucleus shifts between two energy states, altering its shape and the distribution of its electric field, particularly its quadrupole component, which depends directly on the fine-structure constant. By precisely measuring these transitions in thorium-containing crystals, the researchers achieved a sensitivity to variations in the fine-structure
materialsnuclear-clockthoriumfine-structure-constantatomic-physicsprecision-measurementelectromagnetic-interactionMIT method can probe inside atom’s nucleus, uses electrons as messengers
Researchers at MIT have developed a novel, table-top method to probe inside an atom’s nucleus by using the atom’s own electrons as “messengers” within molecules. Traditionally, studying nuclear interiors requires large-scale particle accelerators, but this new approach leverages molecules—specifically radium monofluoride (RaF)—to create a microscopic environment where electrons briefly penetrate the nucleus. By precisely measuring energy shifts in electrons orbiting the radium atom within the molecule, the team detected subtle interactions that reveal details about the nucleus’s internal structure. This technique enables a new way to measure the nuclear magnetic distribution, reflecting how protons and neutrons align as tiny magnets inside the nucleus. The radium nucleus, notable for its asymmetric “pear-shaped” structure, amplifies effects related to fundamental symmetry violations, which are key to understanding why the universe contains more matter than antimatter. Published in Science, the study combines precision laser spectroscopy and theoretical calculations to demonstrate the method’s sensitivity to nuclear magnetization—a
materialsatomic-physicselectron-microscopynuclear-probingmolecular-spectroscopyradium-monofluorideprecision-measurementMIT doubles optical atomic clock precision with quantum trick
MIT physicists have developed a new quantum technique called global phase spectroscopy that doubles the precision of optical atomic clocks by overcoming quantum noise, a fundamental barrier in measuring atomic oscillations. Optical atomic clocks, which use atoms like ytterbium ticking up to 100 trillion times per second, are more precise than traditional cesium-based clocks but have been limited by quantum noise obscuring their natural rhythm. The new method leverages a subtle laser-induced "global phase" in entangled ytterbium atoms, amplifying this signal through quantum entanglement to detect twice as many atomic "ticks" per second and significantly improve clock stability. This advancement builds on prior MIT research involving entanglement and time-reversal techniques that enhanced microwave clock precision but had not been successfully applied to the much faster optical clocks. By amplifying the global phase signal left by laser interactions with entangled atoms, the researchers can more effectively detect and correct laser drift, a major source of instability. This breakthrough paves the way for smaller
materialsquantum-technologyatomic-clocksprecision-measurementoptical-clocksquantum-noise-reductiontimekeeping-technologyNext-gen quantum sensors could be built as scientists overcome big hurdle
Scientists at the University of Sydney have developed a new quantum sensing protocol that overcomes limitations imposed by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, enabling ultra-precise measurements of both position and momentum simultaneously. By effectively redistributing the unavoidable quantum uncertainty—pushing it into less critical areas—they can measure fine details with unprecedented sensitivity. This approach uses "grid states," quantum states initially designed for error-corrected quantum computing, applied to the tiny vibrational motion of a trapped ion, analogous to a quantum pendulum. This breakthrough allows measurements beyond the standard quantum limit achievable by classical sensors, potentially revolutionizing navigation in GPS-denied environments such as submarines, underground locations, or spaceflight. Additionally, it holds promise for enhancing biological and medical imaging, materials monitoring, gravitational system analysis, and fundamental physics research. While still experimental, this new framework complements existing quantum sensing technologies and could lead to next-generation sensors capable of detecting extremely subtle signals with high precision.
quantum-sensorsquantum-uncertaintynavigation-technologyprecision-measurementtrapped-ionsensor-technologyHeisenberg-uncertainty-principleRing laser tracks Earth's axial wobble 100 times more accurately
Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Bonn have developed a highly sensitive underground ring laser capable of tracking Earth's axial wobble with unprecedented precision—100 times more accurate than previous ring lasers or gyroscopes. Located at the Geodetic Observatory in Wettzell, Bavaria, this instrument recorded Earth's subtle rotational fluctuations, including precession and nutation, continuously over 250 days without relying on telescopes, satellites, or external reference signals. Unlike traditional methods such as Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), which require complex, multi-continental radio telescope networks and take days or weeks to process data, the ring laser provides near real-time measurements with updates every hour or less. Earth’s axis experiences constant motion due to gravitational forces from the Moon and Sun and its equatorial bulge, resulting in slow precession cycles (~26,000 years) and shorter nutation oscillations (notably an 18.6-year cycle, plus weekly and daily fluctuations
materialsring-laser-technologygeodetic-observatoryEarth-axial-wobbleprecision-measurementrotational-fluctuationslaser-instrumentationDusty Robotics adopts Hexagon’s Leica AT500 laser tracker
Dusty Robotics has integrated Hexagon’s Leica Absolute Tracker AT500 into its FieldPrinter 2 system to enhance setup speed, usability, and maintain its 1/16″ accuracy standard for applications in data centers, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. The AT500’s compact, durable design and long-range measurement capability (up to 320 meters diameter) improve Dusty’s automated layout functions by offering greater operational efficiency and an alternative to traditional total station methods. Key features include IP54 dust and water protection, hot-swappable batteries, a controllerless design for streamlined setup, and the PowerLock system that maintains tracking even if the measurement process is temporarily blocked. This integration also advances Dusty’s floor elevation measurement capabilities, enabling efficient assessment of flatness and floor deviations critical for mission-sensitive environments. By embedding the lightweight LMF-e interface, the system allows dynamic trajectory correction without requiring complex industrial Ethernet real-time features, simplifying operations and reducing system complexity. Dusty will offer the AT500 as an additional tracker
robotlaser-trackerconstruction-technologyautomationprecision-measurementindustrial-roboticsmanufacturing-intelligenceWorld's most accurate atomic clock redefines how me measure second
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed the world’s most accurate aluminum ion-based optical atomic clock, setting a new benchmark by measuring a second to its 19th decimal place. This clock is 41% more accurate and 2.6 times more stable than the previous record holder, reflecting two decades of refinement. Unlike traditional cesium atomic clocks, this device uses a single aluminum ion known for its exceptionally steady high-frequency vibrations, paired with a magnesium ion in a “buddy system” through quantum logic spectroscopy. The magnesium ion helps cool the aluminum ion and facilitates precise measurement of its “ticks.” Achieving this unprecedented precision involved overcoming several technical challenges, including redesigning the ion trap to minimize unwanted ion motion and constructing a vacuum chamber from titanium to drastically reduce hydrogen interference. Additionally, the clock benefits from an ultrastable laser developed at JILA, whose beam travels over two miles via fiber optics to NIST, enhancing the clock’s stability and reducing measurement time from weeks
materialsatomic-clockprecision-measuremention-trapquantum-logic-spectroscopylaser-technologytimekeepingPenny-sized laser captures motion at 10 quintillion frames per second
laserLiDARautonomous-vehiclesoptical-metrologysynthetic-materialsprecision-measurementchip-scale-technology