Atom interferometer Measures Acceleration in three Dimensions

‍Updated‍ June 14, 2025

Boulder, Colo. — University of Colorado Boulder physicists have successfully measured acceleration in three ⁣dimensions using supercooled atoms. This breakthrough, detailed in ‍ Science Advances, could revolutionize navigation technology.

The new ⁤device,an atom interferometer,has the⁢ potential to‍ enhance the precision of navigation systems in⁤ submarines,spacecraft,and automobiles. Kendall Mehling, a CU⁢ Boulder physics graduate ⁣student and ⁤study co-author, emphasized the importance of tracking acceleration in all three dimensions for accurate navigation.

The CU Boulder team, including Mehling, postdoctoral researcher Catie LeDesma, and⁤ physics professor Murray Holland, utilizes six lasers to trap tens of thousands of⁤ rubidium atoms. Artificial intelligence then manipulates ⁤these lasers, enabling the measurement of ⁣atomic behavior in response to‍ minute accelerations.

NASA awarded‍ the researchers a $5.5 million ⁣grant in 2023 to further develop this sensor technology through the agency’s Quantum Pathways Institute.

While current vehicles rely on GPS and classical accelerometers, the quantum device offers a promising alternative. Mehling noted the advantage of atoms not aging, unlike the components in classical sensors.

Interferometers have been used ⁢for centuries in various applications, including optical fiber interaction and gravitational wave detection. The⁣ core principle involves splitting and recombining elements to detect interference patterns.

In this study, the team applied this principle to ⁢atoms. Rubidium atoms are cooled ⁣to near absolute zero, forming a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC). Lasers then create ‍a superposition, where each atom exists in two places concurrently. As⁤ these atoms separate and recombine, they form a pattern that reveals the experienced acceleration, according to Holland.

Holland⁢ described the process: “Our Bose-Einstein⁣ Condensate is a matter-wave pond made of atoms, and we⁣ throw stones made of little packets ⁢of light into the pond,⁢ sending ripples both left and right. Once the ripples have spread out, we ‍reflect ‍them and bring them back together where ⁢they interfere.”

LeDesma noted the device’s compactness, stating, “Even though we have 18 laser beams passing through the vacuum system that contains our atom cloud, the entire experiment is small enough that we could deploy in the field one day.”

Machine⁢ learning plays a crucial role in streamlining the complex laser adjustments required to manipulate the rubidium atoms.⁣ The computer program plans these ‍moves in advance, explained Holland.

Currently,the ⁢device measures accelerations smaller than Earth’s gravity. The team aims to significantly improve it’s performance‍ in the coming years, highlighting the potential of atoms in advanced technologies.

Holland said, “We’re not exactly sure of all the possible ramifications of this research, because it opens up a door.”

What’s next

The researchers plan to refine the atom interferometer, focusing on enhancing its sensitivity and exploring potential real-world applications in navigation and beyond.