NIST researchers have developed a compact quantum sensor chip that could revolutionize precision measurements. The chip, measuring just 1 square centimeter, uses laser light to interact with a cloud of atoms, enabling highly accurate measurements of length, time, and magnetic fields.
The key innovation is the integration of atom cloud and light waveguides onto a single chip, which could be mass-produced using existing semiconductor manufacturing techniques. This would make quantum sensors more affordable and accessible for various applications, from navigation and communications to medical devices.
The chip demonstrates a frequency measurement precision of 1 part in 10 billion, which is very good for its size, though lab instruments are more precise. The research is part of NIST’s “NIST-on-a-Chip” program aimed at creating compact, low-cost, and easily manufactured quantum-based measurement tools.
Keywords: frequency, precision, wavelength, atoms, quantum
