Gravity Gradiometry Research Group
Established in 2011 we are a group of researchers focused on cold atom interferometry and we are part of the cold atom research group at the University of Birmingham. Our work includes a variety of projects, ranging from those performing fundamental research aiming to improve the underpinning techniques to a crossover between physics and engineering and those in strong collaboration with industry.
We carry out a wide range of research projects, often in collaboration with industries or other universities. We also collaborate very strongly with the University of Birmingham Civil Engineering Department.
Our research focuses on performing precision inertial sensing, and in particular on the measurement of gravity and gravity gradients, through atom interferometry. A large portion of our work involves bringing cold atom based gravity sensing to practical use, through improving the readiness, developing the underpinning hardware, and building demonstrators that can operate in application relevant environments – for example, targeting finding underground infrastructure using a cold atom gradiometer.
Our research
AION
AION
The Atom Interferometric Observatory and Network (AION) project is a consortium of seven UK laboratories funded by UKRI.
The project aims to enable the exploration of the properties of dark matter and to search for new fundamental interactions, as well as detecting gravitational waves in a frequency range previously inaccessible. To do so, the consortium will develop the technology to build a large-scale atom interferometer. The University of Birmingham is in charge of the atom interferometry to realise new levels of large momentum transfer to enable the exquisite sensitivity required to achieve the goal of the project.
The project will allow a breakthrough in the atom interferometry field while also providing leadership on the realisation of economic impact.
CASPA
CASPA
CASPA (Cold Atom Space Payload)
The Earth’s upper atmosphere plays a key role as the boundary between terrestrial and solar energy transfer. However, its dynamic behaviour is not well understood as the rarefied conditions place it significantly above the maximum altitude for aircraft but well below the orbit of conventional satellite missions. Through a collaboration with Teledyne e2V and RAL Space the CASPA project is developing an atom interferometer payload for a CubeSat nanosatellite to operate in this critical atmospheric band. Such a CubeSat would measure the atmospheric drag experienced with a quantum accelerometer allowing a better understanding of the dynamic behaviour of the upper atmosphere.
Compact gradiometer
Compact gradiometer
Quantum sensors are no longer limited to research laboratories. They can be compact and user-friendly enough for industrial transfer.
The Compact Gradiometer is the third gravity gradiometer design and built at the University of Birmingham. It was part of the Gravity Imager project, funded by DSTL, and now part of the QT Hub, funded by UKRI, with which a second compact gradiometer is developed. The aim of the compact gradiometer is to explore the possibility of using transportable gravity gradient sensors and to make it the most compact quantum gradiometer ever used.
To meet these constraints we are taking many novel approaches. A highly agile and compact laser system was developed to control many experimental steps from a single seed. A single-body vacuum chamber maintains the atoms in ultra-high vacuum and allows for full gradient measurement. All aspects of cold atoms research and systems engineering are being exploited to make this field deployable sensor.
Field gradiometry
Field gradiometry
Into the field
Atom interferometry has become a versatile tool for fundamental research and, more recently, has started to move out of the laboratory towards quantum sensing for a wide range of applications. The UoB Field Gradiometer uses two atom interferometers to measure gravity gradients and is designed to operate in a range of real world conditions. This allows for the system to perform surveys in a variety of different applications ranging from geophysics to navigation.Our research focuses on developing new techniques and technology's to improve the sensitivity, robustness and measurement speed while maintaining a size, weight and power that allows for operation in a number of applications outside the lab.
Moving gradiometer
Moving gradiometer
Measurements of local gravity, quantum or classical, rely on many repetitions at the same location to build a full image of local gravity and then average out noise sources. The result is a gravitational update rate (or data-rate) that is impractically slow for real world applications on dynamic platforms, such as inertial navigation. Moving Gradiometer is implementing single shot and hybrid sensing techniques on an instrument developed for in field operation to create a high data-rate system that will validate quantum technology in dynamic sensor contexts. The Moving Gradiometer system serves a dual purpose to enable measurements in both moving sensor/static target and static sensor/moving target contexts. The latter of these two is of interest to the UK Intelligence community for use in border control and infrastructure protection applications.