Gravity gradiometers are capable of measuring the spatial variation of the local gravitational field by measuring the difference in gravity between two nearby points. This allows them to detect variations in sub-surface density which in turn can be used for a wide range of civil and military applications. This project aims to investigate the feasibility of implementing a gravity gradiometer based upon a grating magneto-optical trap (gMOT) for use in the UK rail sector. In particular, the project aims to understand the impact this technology will have on the assessment of aging rail assets (e.g., bridges, tunnels), the monitoring of new construction work (e.g., undesired sub-surface ground movement), and the ability to navigate in GNSS-denied environments through gravity map matching (e.g., tunnels, mineshafts). Research has shown quantum-enabled gravity gradiometers to be capable of a ~100-fold increase in sensitivity over classical devices, and CPI TMD intend to investigate the benefit this will bring to solving known issues in the railway sector. Project lead CPI TMD will build upon their existing gMOT-based gravity gradiometer (GRADUATE) development work and will work alongside rail sector end-users and technical experts in the development of key subsystems. They will investigate and develop the use case for the technology, along with a business case detailing the technologies route to market. The project will position itself for a phase 2, which will see CPI TMD undertake the necessary system testing, verification and validation to satisfy the use cases identified within this project.

SPARTAN will develop a novel, low-cost frequency comb with an entirely UK-based supply chain for direct exploitation in optical atomic clock products for quantum-enhanced PNT. Broader applications are LIDAR and spectroscopy, including ultrafast and dual-comb techniques for UK defence and security. SPARTAN unites a consortium of UK companies and a not-for-profit RTO, leading in frequency comb and optical clock technologies, custom control systems, and packaging for an innovative approach to commercialising this technology and developing competitive PNT products with a UK supply chain.

HARLEQUIN (High Accuracy Robust deployabLE Quantum Inertial Navigaton) is a quantum-classical hybrid inertial navigation demonstrator for use on maritime platforms. In this project, field trials of the system will be conducted on board a vessel operated by the UK's General Lighthouse Authority. Using data gathered from the trial, a programme of system upgrades will be conducted with a view to improving the performance of the system as well as its suitability for operation in a shipboard environment. A second field trial conducted at the end of the project will validate the improvement work.

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) provide an easily-accessed source of timing and location data. However, GNSS is vulnerable to jamming and spoofing and is not available in sub-terrain and sub-marine environments. A dead reckoning-based inertial navigation system (INS) utilises accelerometers and gyroscopes to deduce movement without reliance on any external systems. However, no sensor based on classical physics has reached the necessary stability and accuracy desired for GNSS holdover. A quantum-hybrid INS, measuring spatial movement using the input from both quantum-enabled and classical sensors, can offer significant performance improvements over existing classical INSs. This project will deliver a quantum-classical hybrid INS demonstrator, built around CPI TMD's existing gMOT product -- a compact, portable magneto optical trap (MOT) powered by a USB battery. The system will integrate a MOT-derived accelerometer with a classical ring laser gyroscope and an atomic clock to allow precise measurement of changes in position, and will be suitable for use on a maritime platform. Project lead CPI TMD Technologies Ltd. will output a commercially viable sovereign system that can be manufactured at scale for use by civilian and defence end-users. CPI TMD will bring their vacuum and sub-system integration capabilities as well as a strong commercial drive from their network of potential end users, and leverage a UK supply chain built over 8 years developing quantum technologies.

Quantum enabled Gravity Gradiometry, the measurement of the rate of spatial change of the earth's gravity field, offers significant performance improvements over conventional gravimetry including much better signal to noise ratios (by cancelling out vibrations) and a method better suited to producing geodesy -- gravity maps. The GRADUATE project (gravity gradiometry for end user trials) aims to shrink and ruggedize the apparatus, realising appropriate SWAP (size, weight and power) to produce field deployable technology. Bandwidth improvements will allow for application as a survey tool in moving vehicles, the spatial resolution of measurements being dependant on the bandwidth. This is a particular consideration in airborne survey tools. The team assembled for the GRADUATE project to deliver a commercially feasible quantum gravity gradiometry tool Project lead CPI-TMD will bring their vacuum and sub-system integration capabilities as well as a strong commercial drive from their network of potential end users. M Squared are photonics and quantum technology solutions providers, who in 2017 made the UK's first commercial cold-atom gravity measurement and have continued to invest in maturing the technology. The University of Strathclyde quantum group are rated world class, and with an established record of collaborating closely with both industrial partners underpin this project with exceptional capability in the physics of innovative quantum devices.

Highly accurate atomic clocks have a broad and expanding range of vital applications and are used in many aspects of our daily lives. One well-known example is the GPS navigation system which depends on sub-microsecond accurate timing to provide both position and timing information. This information is used in communications systems, telecoms, finance and infrastructure applications, as well as a host of other less obvious places. However, satellite-based systems are vulnerable to external influence and attack. Consequently, many of these dependencies are now exposed, and action is required to make systems that depend on satellite-derived timing information more independent and robust. Timing systems based on trapped ions can deliver significantly improved accuracy over currently available commercial systems. Clocks based on trapped ions will enable both backup and stand-alone systems to be built. Currently, these systems, which give accuracies of 10^-18, similar to an error of one second in the age of the universe, have only been demonstrated in research labs. Furthermore, due to their complexity, power consumption and environmental requirements, these systems are far from portable as well as being too expensive for widespread deployment. The University of Sussex has developed a portable optical atomic reference based on trapped calcium ions probed by a "clock" laser pre-stabilised to a compact optical cavity and, in conjunction with an optical micro-comb, can turn the output of the system into a useable signal. Together these systems function as an atomic clock with the accuracy required to support future communications and infrastructure systems. This project aims to improve and industrialise the current calcium ion clock design, reducing the size and weight of the system and ruggedise it by increasing subsystem integration. This will make it a much more useable product for many systems and should open up a new market for advanced timing devices with a wide range of applications. A portable optical atomic clock system will be developed, and its integration in various applications explored with the combined efforts of the consortium, which comprises of: * TMD Technologies, a leading company in quantum technology development, vacuum electronics and ruggedised electronics for defence applications; * Covesion, experts in nonlinear optics and optical system development; * Chronos Technology, a leader in timing and synchronisation equipment; and the University of Sussex, * Leonardo, a leading system integrator; * BT, a communications services provider focusing on high-speed optical networking technology; * QinetiQ, a science and engineering company operating in the defence sector.

We are developing photonic quantum computers that will use individual particles of light known as photons to carry out computational tasks in more powerful ways than conventional supercomputers. However, operations in photonic quantum computers are fundamentally unreliable, hence memory elements are required to store successful outcomes of quantum logic gates until all have functioned correctly. One way of storing light in a material system is by mapping the quantum state of a photon into a collective excitation of a cloud of atoms using an energy level transition mediated by a bright laser beam. The photon can then be retrieved a few hundreds of nanoseconds later by switching the laser on again. Although the storage time seems short, it is sufficient to buffer enough gates to build large-scale photonic quantum processors. Unfortunately, the atoms with the best energy levels for this application are rubidium -- a highly reactive element that is difficult to handle -- and existing quantum memories are limited by the characteristics of the vapour cells in which the rubidium must be contained. In this project, we will design, build, and test advanced vapour cells that contain clouds of rubidium atoms in the hollow cores of special optical fibres. This will ensure not only that the reactive rubidium remains protected from the environment but also that light can interact with atoms over the whole length of the hollow fibre. Combined with the ease with which our compact fibre memory modules will integrate with other optical components, the products that we develop will enable a much larger number of memories be operated simultaneously at much higher efficiencies than was previously possible. This will open up new markets both within the scientific and technological development of quantum computation and beyond in the applications of photonic quantum computers to societal challenges including drug discovery, industrial process optimisation, or modelling new materials for batteries and solar cells.

Quantum computers will transform numerous industrial sectors, from the major aerodynamic simulations used to optimise jet engine design, through artificial intelligence, machine learning and the data economy, to drug discovery. Quantum computers are set to be as game-changing as the development of conventional computers in the last century, as they will be able to solve high-impact problems which would take the fastest supercomputer billions of years. A primary goal of UK's National Quantum Technology Programme is translating the UK's academic excellence in developing practical quantum computers into economic prosperity, by building a quantum computing industry sector including relevant supply chains. The biggest remaining challenges in realising universal quantum computation are in scaling up to fault-tolerant machines with millions of qubits. The quantum hardware developed in QCorrect will be capable of overcoming the limitations faced by competitors around the world propelling the UK to become a leader in commercial quantum computing. While competing platforms based on superconducting qubits are limited in the number of qubits they can realise because of the requirement to cool microchips to -273C, our platform is based on trapped-ions and does not require such cooling. Our platform is also suitable for implementation of efficient and scalable error-correction algorithms which improve the performance of the computer whilst reducing the hardware requirements. The combination of these factors offers the opportunity to develop systems featuring much larger qubit numbers. Full silicon microchip integration will allow the creation of self-sufficient electronic quantum computing modules to be deployed and made cloud-accessible for end-user investigation during the project. Hardware/software co-development is led by system integrator Universal Quantum and quantum software developer Riverlane, together with leading subsystem manufacturers for vacuum systems (Edwards) and microwave technologies (TMD Technologies, Diamond Microwave) incubating a quantum computing supply chain in the UK. The University of Sussex will perform use-case demonstrations and deliver performance enhancements aided by theoretical innovations from Imperial College London. In order to ensure a pathway to commercialisation, applied Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) experts at Rolls-Royce and STFC will work with Riverlane and UQ to develop a quantum approach to solving partial differential equations that underpin commercially-relevant simulations in the UK aerospace sector. Exploitation/dissemination partners Sia Partners will develop a roadmap to commercialisation of application-specific tools in CFD and Qureca will develop broader use-cases that depend on solving partial differential equations. The consortium will execute the first use-case demonstrations and streamline hardware/software development towards practical applications.

The project will take forward innovative development of a Travelling Wave Tube operating over the mm wave region of the Electromagnetic spectrum, ultimately aimed at significantly enhancing sensor system performance. High power and wideband microwave amplifiers are critical for a range of applications, including communications, radar, and environmental sensing. At the highest power levels demanded by these applications, the amplifiers are based on accelerating an electron beam to high energy and converting the kinetic energy of the beam into an enhanced microwave signal. UK companies, especially TMD, have established a position of world leadership in this area. Many microwave applications benefit from a move to significantly higher frequencies as bandwidth demands can be more easily met. Other applications explicitly require high-frequency signals. To provide the power levels demanded by end applications, a step change is required in the design of and manufacturing methods of the region of interaction between the electron beam and the RF signal. Traditional assemblies are approaching their limit of miniaturisation and thermal management. These would be replaced with a monolithic all-metal structure exploiting new manufacturing methods. These structures benefit from better thermal performance and improved ease of manufacture at the required dimensions. By employing an updated design and novel manufacturing techniques and materials, initial modelling shows it is possible to reduce the operating voltage of Ka-band Travelling Wave Tubes with corresponding reductions in associated power supplies size, weight and power consumption. This has a significant impact on the environmental impact of the devices throughout their operating lives. The reduction in size and weight also allows them to be applied in a wide range of novel applications. Preliminary design work for novel Ka-band TWTs has been undertaken in partnership between TMD and the University of Strathclyde, with positive initial modelling results. This project aims to advance the design from theoretical design and modelling of components to prototypes of the new amplifier for experimental verification of the final electrical design. This will feed directly into a new line of highly scalable products able to address a range of markets. Mention ROK investment and partnership, beating and capturing the market to secure UK sovereign capability and British jobs in post-Brexit world

Compact optical reference development allows novel ultra-precise, compact optical atomic clocks to become feasible. Crucial system components are ultra-compact coherent optical frequency combs to convert the optical reference frequency into an electronic signal, enabling applications such as hold-over references for GNSS denial/interruption in facilities and telecom networks, data centres and novel defence applications. Simultaneously, quantum cryptography has gained tremendous momentum in the last decade. Key to enabling quantum cryptography are the development of quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum random number generation (QRNG) techniques ensuring safe, reliable, and robust communication networks. Current protocols utilize highly attenuated laser beams or single photon sources for encryption. Lasers offer advantages in terms of high bit rates, simplistic experimental setups, and low hardware costs. Truly secure communication can only be achieved by embedding quantum light sources with lasers. Applications need high-quality, low-cost optical solutions. Compact, fibre-integrated micro-resonators exhibit large nonlinear optical behaviour which facilitates their application in a wide range of systems, from efficient entangled single photon sources to optical frequency comb generation. With industrial fabrication established and their easy integration into an all-fibre system, micro-resonators are ideal devices for portable systems with demanding robustness and stability requirements. We will develop effective optical sources tailored for quantum technology applications based on architectures embedding fibre-laser and chip-integrated micro-resonators. Using the exceptional optical nonlinearity of these chips and the expertise developed by the collaboration between INRS-EMT and Sussex, efficient, compact optical sources will be developed for (i) quantum cryptography, developing a probabilistic source of single photons for QKD and QRNG and (ii) portable atomic clocks, realizing a ruggedized optical frequency comb and locking it to an atomic reference. The same underlying physics and technology allows the targeting of key applications of optical sources in quantum technology. The Canadian team will employ these systems as entangled single photon sources for quantum cryptography, the UK team will focus on their integration into a portable optical reference to build a compact atomic clock. With unique in-house, world-leading expertise in vacuum electronics (TMD), non-classical light sources (OEC), non-linear micro-resonators (INRS-EMT), photonics (Pasquazi-Sussex) and atomic science (Keller-Sussex); the goal will be achieved by using the joint expertise in non-linear optics with integrated micro-resonators to develop a high-efficiency photon source and a highly-precise optical frequency comb. The shared expertise, technology and techniques of the Canadian and UK teams, as well as of their industrial partners will facilitate rapid progress and commercialization.

The use of short wavelength ultraviolet light to disinfect surfaces is a well-established technique commonly used to sterilise medical equipment and unpopulated spaces. These light sources are however often bulky, inefficient, contain toxic materials such as mercury, and the light generated can be harmful to human eyes and skin. Using low-cost, scalable materials and processes, TMD Technologies, in partnership with Brunel University London, propose to develop a flat-panel far-UVC source capable of generating light at a wavelength proven harmless to humans, while being efficient against bacteria and viruses including the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This device will allow widespread installation in public spaces where pathogen transmission is a heightened risk, effectively reducing the rate of spread and benefiting the national public health.

The UK has world leading capability in scalable, high fidelity qubit generation for quantum computing, with two particularly compelling approaches being neutral atoms and ion microtraps. These technologies, however, remain at low TRL because a viable commercialisation approach requires the provision of test beds available to the UK community, and test beds are unavailable owing to two technology barriers -- qubit scalability and fidelity. Providing these test beds requires inter-disciplinary expertise beyond any one company. Our vision for this project is to bring together a such world-leading multidisciplinary consortium of UK industry and academic partners -- the only group capable of overcoming the two barriers and creating a globally leading industry for commercial quantum computing and simulation hardware. The programme will show a transition from fundamental, academic TRL activity to scalable, commercial deployments of cold matter quantum information systems; overcoming the fidelity and scalability barriers via advancement of system manufacturability including microfabrication and vacuum hardware; development of the photonics backbone including advanced lasers for state preparation, qubit control and readout, requiring high levels of optical power, stability and noise suppression; and the design and delivery of electronics and control systems, including modular electronics and advanced control and sequencing hardware. The key objectives in overcoming the barriers as described above is to bring the technology to a level where pragmatic test bed facilities for the benefit of the quantum community can be realised. Commercially, by establishing the potential scalability of the technology the consortium will establish a supply chain cluster, evidencing the potential impact, and producing a roadmap to industrial production. The partners have extensive experience in the sector and can already demonstrate commercial deployment of relevant technologies across the global market for quantum information systems. Furthermore, the planned work can be expected to dovetail with existing national quantum computing infrastructure, to realise coordinated growth of the UK quantum computing sector for the wider benefit of UK plc, and trigger significant additional investment outside the project funding.

To develop and commercialise a miniaturised, self-contained, integrated platform for atom cooling within a hand-held package for use in next-generation quantum technologies, such as atomic clocks and derivative applications based on high precision measurement of time.

"There is clear evidence of Quantum innovation from two key publications -- The UK Blackett report published by the Government Office for Science on 'The Quantum Age: Technological Opportunities' and the EU Report 'Quantum Manifesto'. These both address the growing importance of quantum technology and in particular for the development of future atomic clocks. Atomic clocks offer unparalleled accuracy and stability without dependence on GPS. At present, many applications in the defence, broadcast and financial industries are vulnerable to jamming, spoofing or errors in the GPS system itself. The Quantum Fibre Clock (QFC) project will use hollow-core optical fibre filled with caesium vapour to produce an atomic clock which is smaller, lighter and more efficient than existing technologies. QFC will capitalise on UK momentum to stay ahead and give the UK a competitive advantage in the market place. The project will research the evolution of the hollow core fibre quantum research invented and undertaken by University of Bath in partnership with TMD Technologies Ltd and led by SME Chronos Technology Ltd. The previous research has concentrated on manufacturing an efficient hollow core fibre architecture, filling with rubidium vapour to create the physics package and developing the interface electronics to enable stability testing at 10 MHz and 1PPS. This project will concentrate on the filling of the hollow core fibre with caesium, and subsequent creation of a working prototype clock and a small quantity of demonstrators. These will be used to inform prospective users that the technology is viable and enable testing in appropriate applications and environmental conditions such as temperature, pressure, shock and vibration."

Project FEMTO-2ND (say "femtosecond", which is a millionth of a billionth of a second!) is a key step in the UK’s 5-year programme to bring the remarkable new concepts of quantum physics out of research labs and into the everyday world. Chronos Technology, TMD Technologies and the University of Bath’s Engineering and Physics Departments have teamed up to create the key components of these systems by using the new technique called "hollow core fibre (HCF)". They are developing the innovative technologies that are the building blocks of Quantum Clocks. This next stage in the journey will deliver the first prototype Rb filled HCF physics packages with a view to progressing to a prototype quantum clock. Soon Quantum Clocks will begin to protect our telecommunications and broadcasting systems when their critical time synchronisation, now taken from vulnerable satellites, is lost to interference, jamming or space weather storms. These new quantum physics sources of time and frequency promise the femtosecond accuracies previously unimaginable. Eventually, they may also help the UK deliver ultra-precise navigation for land, sea, air and space plus wholly new applications, including a gravity telescope.

The project aims to deliver a miniature, integrated magneto optical trap (MOT) chamber for use in portable cold atom technologies and markets. Kelvin Nanotechnology, TMD Technologies and the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow have teamed up to create a universal miniature cold atom trap device for deployable atomic based quantum technologies that will build on key processes developed by the partners. These processes include diffractive optics design and fabrication, innovative bonding and sealing methods, physics package encapsulation, complex alkali metal vapour filling techniques and performance evaluation methodologies. Integrating these individual technologies into a highly functional and low cost system will enable rigorous testing and qualification by industrial users for deployment in next generation quantum technology systems in a wide variety of applications and markets.

Travelling wave tubes (TWTs) are vacuum electronics devices used as microwave-band amplifiers in defence, medical and space applications. While solid state amplifier technologies continuously improve, demand for higher frequency and power handling means the most demanding applications always require TWTs. At higher frequencies, TWT components must be smaller, and higher powers require TWTs to be made more precisely. At present, the capability to accurately measure positioning and alignment of components has become a limiting factor in TMD's build processes. This project aims to to develop an accurate and repeatable method of measuring the position and alignment of the control grid - a key component of the electron gun. This grid determines the initial trajectory and focus of the high-intensity electron beam which allows TWTs to achieve their unparalleled amplification effect. Micron-level variation in grid positioning can adversely affect TWT performance, potentially resulting in failure. Development of a successful technique will reduce costs, build time and scrap value, but will also unlock further capability allowing TWTs of more ambitious design to be built.

It is difficult to overestimate the impact of electronic computers on modern society – and yet, just a few decades ago, computer technology was limited to the research laboratory by their enormous complexity, power requirement, and cost. The uptake of such technology by wider, non-specialist society has gone hand in hand with improvements in size, cost and performance of the subsystems upon which computers depend. Quantum technology finds itself at a similar junction. These systems are now a reality and hold enormous potential to revolutionise our lives, but they are only found in a few research laboratories because they depend upon very expensive, very large and very fragile laser systems and electronics. In this project, we will reduce the size and cost of these critical components enormously, without losing performance, in order to place the UK at the vanguard of QT development and commercialisation.

Electron emitter devices are used in a broad range of applications including RF amplifiers for communications and RADAR. Increasing need for global communications driven by market demand for live, streaming video quality data for mobile users is limited by existing infrastructures and technologies. Travelling wave tubes (TWTs) remain an important enabling technology for this sector, creating RF amplification for communications at greater than double the efficiencies that the best compound semiconductors have been able to deliver. However, TWTs are currently constrained to thermionic electron sources that intrinsically limit lifetime. Diamond semiconductors offer strong potential due to their high electron mobilities and excellent thermal properties; however they have been limited in applications due to the difficulty in producing commercially viable p-n semiconductor junctions. The REDEFInE project, redefines electron field emitters by creating novel diamond electron emitters embedded into intrinsic diamond to create optimal thermal management with no inherent wear mechanisms.

FEMTO-AAD will play a key role in the UK’s 5 year programme to bring remarkable new concepts in quantum physics out of research labs and into real-world applications. Chronos Technology, TMD Technologies and the University of Bath’s Electronics Engineering and Physics Departments have teamed up to research UK-based hollow core fibre (HCF) manufacturing, a new technique based on quantum physics that promises a generation of highly-accurate clocks. The consortium will also create a unique Advanced Application Demonstrator (AAD) that features an ensemble of Quantum Clocks synchronised to UTC – the world timing standard. As HCF and other new-technology clocks emerge from within FEMTO and the EPSRC Quantum Hub at Birmingham and Strathclyde Universities they will become candidates to be installed in the Demonstrator, taking over from traditional technologies. There they will drive the nation’s critical broadcasting and telecommunications networks with an accuracy and at a cost previously unachievable.

FEMTO will play a key role in the UK’s 5 year programme to bring the remarkable new concepts of quantum physics out of research labs and into applications. Chronos Technology, TMD Technologies and the University of Bath’s Electronics Engineering and Physics Departments have teamed up to create key components of these systems. They plan to develop innovative microwave down-conversion methods, physics package encapsulation techniques and time measurements of femtosecond precision. These technologies are essential to delivering a new generation of clocks of remarkable accuracy, based on revolutionary quantum physics concepts. FEMTO will collaborate with the EPSRC Quantum Hub at Birmingham and Strathclyde Universities to produce a demonstrator. This will be the foundation for a programme that will turn prototypes into world-leading products. These new quantum physics sources of time and frequency will have an accuracy previously unachievable. They will let the UK deliver precise navigation for land, sea, air and space plus wholly new applications including a gravity telescope.

MICROCAT’s aim is to develop a novel step-change technology for the treatment and recycling of agricultural and industrial wastewaters which offers a potential global saving of up to 17000ML/day of blue water. The proposed treatment system will use an advanced textile material (ATM), surface func-tionalised and nanocoated, to serve as a catalyst in the treatment of agricultural wastewater. This inn-ovative project will couple microwave energy to this catalytic material to enhance reaction rates and enable an industrial scale treatment system. Key objectives: couple microwave energy to the catalytic system (highly innovative) to increase catalytic efficiency by 500%; double surface area and efficiency of ATM by developing novel textile structures; optimise nano-coating process to reduce costs by 20% with adaptation for scale-up for manufacture; optimise system process parameters in field trials to meet water regulations. This technology has potential to treat currently untreatable wastewaters

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