Year Ten Explore Cold Atom Quantum Sensing
Last week, Year Ten Physics pupils attended a presentation and workshop led by the Physics Department at the University of Birmingham on Gravity Sensing using Cold Atoms.
This makes use of a Quantum effect to make the measurements and requires a relatively small number of atoms, approximately a million, that are cooled to almost absolute zero (-273oC) using lasers. The ideas of Quantum effects in general were introduced to the pupils and how this technique provides incredible sensitivity potentially allowing many widely varying different applications including navigation, geological mapping and detecting services in roads.
Pupils then participated in a workshop building light sensors, a key component in the technique, before being guided around various research laboratories where they had the unique opportunity to see inside research-level laboratories and hear about the job of a scientist from PhD students and researchers. The pupils thoroughly enjoyed the experience, finding it both interesting and insightful with several of them considering future possible careers in the field of Physical Sciences.
Dr Neil Rowlinson, Head of Physics
