High-tech sensors could guide vehicles without satellites
This device could usher in GPS-free navigation
The Mother of all motion sensors
Quantum inertial and gravity sensors will be crucial for next-generation inertial navigation due to their exceptional sensitivity.
In GPS-denied environments, high-performance quantum inertial sensing, combined with gravity-aided navigation, reduces reliance on GPS. However, the miniaturization and ruggedization of these sensors are still needed for sensor platforms operating under harsh conditions. The broad and deep applied science and engineering expertise at Sandia has enabled multidisciplinary approaches and novel solutions that addresses this national security challenge.
Key Capabilities
The extreme miniaturization of quantum inertial and gravity sensors requires the development of novel technologies and architectures for sensor subsystems.
Sandia has developed a compact and rugged atom interferometer sensor head using a grating magneto-optical trap to achieve reliable quantum sensing in dynamic environments. This sensor head is based on a custom titanium vacuum chamber, a microfabricated grating chip, fixed optical components, and a laser system compatible with photonic integrated circuits.
Sandia researchers have also designed and tested a multi-channel photonic-integrated-circuit laser system implemented with silicon photonic single-sideband modulators for atom interferometry applications.
Additionally, using membrane photonic integrated circuits, Sandia researchers have demonstrated a membrane magneto-optical trap and a photonic atom trap integrated platform aimed at the miniaturization of guided atom interferometers with evanescent fields.
Publications
- “A Low-Power Evanescent Field Atom Guide Based on Nanofiber Testbeds for Chip-Scale Quantum Inertial Sensors with Photonic Integrated Circuits,” arXiv:2311.07055 (2025).
- “Perspective on Quantum Sensors from Basic Research to Commercial Applications,” AIAA Journal 62, 4029 (2024).
- “High-Performance Silicon Photonic Single-Sideband Modulators for Cold-Atom Interferometry,” Science Advances 10, eade4454 (2024).
- “A Compact Cold-Atom Interferometer with a High Data-Rate Grating Magneto-Optical Trap and a Photonic-Integrated-Circuit-Compatible Laser System,” Nature Communications 13, 5131 (2022).
- “Characterization of Suspended Membrane Waveguides Towards a Photonic Atom Trap Integrated Platform,” Optics Express 29, 13129 (2021).
- “Demonstration of a MOT in a Sub-Millimeter Membrane Hole,” Scientific Report 11, 8807 (2021).
- “A Passively Pumped Vacuum Package Sustaining Cold Atoms for More Than 200 Days,” AVS Quantum Science 3, 035001 (2021).
- “Silicon Photonic Single-Sideband Generation with Dual-Parallel Mach-Zehnder Modulators,” CLEO, STh4N.6 (2019).
- “Dual-Axis High-Data-Rate Atom Interferometer via Cold Ensemble Exchange,” Phys. Rev. Applied 2, 054012 (2014).
- “High Data-Rate Atom Interferometer for Measuring Acceleration,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 100, 011106 (2012).
Patents
- “Compact Atom Interferometry Inertial Navigation Sensors with Tailored Diffractive Optics,” US Patent US12424810 (9/23/2025).
- “Measurement Protocol for Large Dynamic Range and High Sensitivity of an Evanescent-Field-Mode Guided Atom Interferometer,” US Patent US12392611 (8/19/2025).
- “Hybrid Inertial Navigation System and Method,” US Patent US12038285 (7/16/2024).
- “Guided Cold Atom Inertial Sensors with Membrane Integrated Photonics on Atom Trap Integrated Platforms,” US Patent US11971256 (4/30/2024).
- “Suspended Waveguides on Membrane and Needle Structures towards Atom Trap Integrated Platforms,” US Patent US11914188 (2/27/2024).
- “Passively Pumped, Polycrystalline Ceramic High and Ultra-High Vacuum Chambers,” US Patent US11766651 (9/26/2023).
- “Compact Laser Source with Frequency Modulators Generating Multiple Lines,” US Patent US11545815 (1/3/2023).
- “Light-Pulse Atom Interferometric Device,” US Patent US9291508 (3/22/2016).
- “High Data Rate Atom Interferometric Device,” US Patent US9086429 (7/21/2015).
- “High Data-Rate Atom Interferometers through High Recapture Efficiency,” US Patent US8941053 (1/27/2015).
Patents Under Examination
- “Autonomic Quantum Systems” (SD16021)
- “Compact Grating-Based Magneto-Optical Trap Sensor Head for Cold Atom Inertial Sensors in Dynamic Environments” (SD 15234).