Scientists at the University of Basel and the Laboratoire Kastler Brossel in Paris have achieved a groundbreaking quantum measurement using spatially separated entangled atomic clouds for the first time. The research, published today in the journal Science, demonstrates how quantum mechanical entanglement can measure multiple physical parameters simultaneously with unprecedented precision.
The international team, led by Prof. Dr. Philipp Treutlein from Basel and Prof. Dr. Alice Sinatra from Paris, developed an innovative approach that entangles atomic spins within a single cloud before splitting it into three spatially separated yet quantum-connected parts. This technique allows researchers to measure electromagnetic field variations with significantly improved accuracy compared to conventional independent atomic systems.
Postdoctoral researcher Yifan Li explained that no one had previously performed such a quantum measurement with spatially separated entangled atomic clouds, and the theoretical framework for such measurements had remained unclear until now. With only a few measurements, the team determined field distributions with distinctly better precision than would have been expected without spatial entanglement.
The practical applications of this breakthrough are substantial. One immediate use is in atom interferometers, which measure Earth's gravitational acceleration. Using the entanglement approach, gravimeters can now measure spatial gravity variations with higher precision than ever before. PhD candidate Lex Joosten noted that these measurement protocols can be directly applied to existing precision instruments such as optical lattice clocks.
This achievement represents a significant step toward next-generation quantum sensors that could revolutionize fields from navigation to geological surveying. The research demonstrates that the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox, long considered a philosophical curiosity, now has concrete practical applications in metrology. Scientists expect this work to inspire further developments in quantum-enhanced sensing technologies across multiple scientific and industrial domains.
Comments