A quantum-classical cold atom system for inertial navigation

Optical and Quantum Sensing and Precision Metrology II 2026

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Authors: Alex Webber-Date, Maxwell Rowley, Paul F. Osborn, Brendan Keliehor, Alistair Muir, Robert Shah, Teodor Krastev, Rachel Cannon, Paul F. Griffin, Erling Riis, Joseph P. Cotter, Oliver S. Burrow
+1 more Edward Boughton
DOI: 10.1117/12.3081764
Cited by: 0
References: 7

Abstract

The results of a marine trial for a cold atom system for inertial navigation (HARLEQUIN) is presented. The system is a deployable atom interferometer demonstrator for navigation using inertial measurements. The interferometer is a grating based, Mach-Zehnder interferometer using rubidium-87 to make measurements of acceleration in a single axis. The output of the quantum sensor is used to condition classical sensors, in a quantum-classical hybrid measurement scheme. The subsystems of HARLEQUIN have been tested aboard a marine platform operated by the UK General Lighthouse Authority, to determine its performance in marine environments and informing an upgrade path to a fully deployable quantum sensor. Presented are results from the trial and upgrade path towards a fully deployable quantum sensor.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Inertial Sensor and Navigation Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates Geophysics and Sensor Technology

Publication details

Journal / source
Optical and Quantum Sensing and Precision Metrology II
Pages
92–92
Publication date
5 March 2026
Language
EN