Phys.org November 9, 2918
At extremely low temperatures, the atoms behave in a ‘quantum’ way, acting like both matter and waves. As the atoms fall, their wave properties are affected by the acceleration of the vehicle. Using an ‘optical ruler’, the accelerometer is able to measure these minute changes very accurately. Making use of this phenomenon researchers in the UK have demonstrated a transportable, standalone quantum accelerometer. The current system is designed for navigation of large vehicles, such as ships and even trains. However, the principle can also be used for fundamental science research, such as in the search for dark energy and gravitational waves, which the Imperial team are also working on…read more.