Quantum Technology. Delivered.

Quantum physics enables the best measurement devices on the planet. Laboratory atomic clocks are accurate to a second in 50 billion years; atomic inertial sensors can measure gravity variations of a part in a billion. However, laboratory devices are large, costly, and fragile.

Vector Atomic is engineering quantum technology for the real world. Our application-specific quantum solutions have been validated in harsh thermal, dynamic, and radiation environments seen on land, at sea, and in space.

Vector Atomic is innovating in all three areas to deliver system-level solutions.

Picosecond Synchronization. Globally.

GPS is the pulse for today’s economy, with more than $1T impact in the US alone. At its heart, GPS is a global timing network. Satellites carrying atomic clocks broadcast precisely timed pulses that mobile devices can use to pinpoint location and synchronize with communication networks. The timing of these pulses is critical – 3-meter positioning requires signal arrival times accurate to 10 nanoseconds (0.00000001 seconds).

Tomorrow’s technology requires timing accuracy beyond GPS. Centimeter-scale autonomous vehicle navigation, ultrahigh-bandwidth data networks, and precise mapping of the Earth are enabled with timing accuracy of 10 picoseconds (0.00000000001 seconds). Vector Atomic is building high-performance clocks and synchronization hardware for a picosecond-level timing network. Our rackmount optical atomic clocks have been validated versus UTC-NIST and at sea. Synchronization has been demonstrated over city scales (30 km) and can ultimately be extended globally through ground-to-satellite relays.

Infinitesimal Forces. Enormous Impact.

Anomalies in Earth’s gravitational field give insight into the world beneath our feet. Depletion of aquifers, rising sea levels, oil and mineral reserves, and underground voids all have tiny gravitational signatures. Detecting and mapping these anomalies requires extreme accuracy, often while operating on a mobile platform.

Atomic sensors can detect signals that others lose in the noise. Capturing infinitesimal accelerations and rotations is the key to navigating when GPS is unavailable, stabilizing the orientation of satellites, and exploring the Earth’s interior. Vector Atomic’s inertial sensors have the form and function to meet the most challenging operational requirements. Our GAINS gravimeter has operated autonomously at-sea, accurately measuring local gravity without the aid of motion stabilization.