Researchers at NIST have developed the first controllable atom SQUID, a key step in creating “atomtronic” inertial sensors. The device uses a superfluid ring of ultracold atoms to measure rotation-induced discrete changes in atomic state, analogous to magnetic flux in conventional SQUIDs.
The team, led by Gretchen Campbell, created a toroidal Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of sodium atoms and introduced a rotating laser beam to induce controlled circulation states. By measuring quantized vortex formation, they demonstrated controllable atomtronic circuits.
This breakthrough could lead to new quantum sensors for rotation measurement, potentially offering advantages over existing technologies. Implementation of practical atomtronic devices is still several years away, but this proof-of-concept represents a significant step forward in the field.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2012/11/first-controllable-atom-squid
Keywords: Superfluid, Atomic, Vortex, Circulation, Quantum
