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Xblue develops commercial quantum sensor for underground
mapping iXblue has developed an industrial quantum gravity gradiometer for applications in near- surface geophysics, civil engineering, and gravity-aided navigation. The system can detect a 40cm diameter pipe almost two metres under the ground.
The industrial prototype of the Differential Quantum Gravimeter (DQG) developed and validated by iXblue Quantum Sensors division can measure simultaneously the absolute values of both gravitational acceleration (g) and its vertical gradient (Γzz). The gradient is more sensitive to mass anomalies at close vicinity of the sensor, while its immunity to vibrations makes it more sensitive to smaller objects. On the other hand, gravity is more sensitive to larger objects, further away. The fusion of the two datasets promises to remove the ambiguity between the determination of the mass of the gravity anomaly and its location. ‘The prototype developed by iXblue is the
first industrial solution in the world to offer this simultaneous measurement. Its resolution better than 1 Eotvos [vertical gradient Γzz is expressed in Eotvos (E), equal to 1nm/s²/m or 0.1µGal/m] makes it capable of detecting very small anomalies while being non-invasive and not requiring a precise knowledge of the terrain’s topography,’ explained Camille Janvier, quantum physicist at iXblue.
Marisa Edmund establishes
women in optics scholarship Marisa Edmund, third-generation owner of Edmund Optics, has established the Advancing Women in Optics Scholarship at the University of Arizona Wyant College of Optical Sciences. According to data from SPIE, in addition
to female representation in the photonics workplace being low, it declines over time. At the earliest career stage, 21 per cent of workers are women, but participation drops with increasing years on the job, dropping to 10 per cent for employees with 30 or more years at work. ‘I am proud to be doing my part to promote
diversity and am honoured to establish that scholarship addressing people who help recognising women forging careers in optics. This is especially critical in areas where women are typically underrepresented across the industry,’ said Edmund. ‘The success of women in our workplace is a priority.’ Edmund, who is chief sales and marketing officer and vice chairman of the board of Edmund Optics, has made over 25 years of professional contribution to the photonics
4 Electro Optics May 2022
Optical Surfaces to make optics for zettawatt laser system
U
K-based Optical Surfaces has been selected by the Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science
(Cuos) at the University of Michigan (USA) to provide beam expander optics for its zettawatt-equivalent ultrashort pulse laser system (Zeus). Sponsored by the US National Science
Foundation, the Zeus laser facility is being constructed to allow a petawatt laser pulse from one of its beamlines to collide with a beam of GeV-energy electrons generated by its other beamline. In this collision, the electrons will encounter a zettawatt (1021
watt)
equivalent laser power as measured in their rest frame.
The construction of the Zeus facility began in 2020 and is slated to be operational in 2024. Among its numerous challenges, the chirped- pulse amplified (CPA) laser system requires an ‘aberration-free’ telescope to deliver the fully amplified pulses at a safe fluence to the three petawatt compressor, where their power is increased 50,000-fold for experimental use. The telescope comprises a 170mm diameter
convex aspheric mirror and a 255mm positive spherical mirror used in an off-axis design. Optical Surfaces will fabricate the precision mirror substrates that will be coated and used
Cuos researchers performing research on the applications of ultrashort laser pulsers
to expand the pulsed beam diameter from 140 to 305mm. The off-axis optics will work as part of
the delivery system to enable ultra-high- power lasers to focus their massive energy onto targets only a few microns in size. Under these extreme conditions the laser- matter interactions can produce energetic beams of electrons and protons, as well as bright, coherent sources of x-rays, which enable researchers to address fundamental questions in areas including plasma physics, x-ray radiography, proton therapy and fast ignition experiments.
Dutch photonic chip ecosystem PhotonDelta secures €1.1bn funding
PhotonDelta, a Dutch-based ecosystem of photonic chip technology organisations, has secured €1.1bn in public and private investment to establish the Netherlands as a leader in next- generation semiconductors. The funding includes €470m from the Dutch government as part of its plan to cement and expand the Netherlands’ position as a world leader in integrated photonics. The rest is co-
invested by various partners and stakeholders. The money will be used
over six years to invest in over 200 photonic startups and scaleups, expand production and research facilities, attract and train talent, drive adoption and develop a world-class design library. By 2030, PhotonDelta aims
to have created an ecosystem with hundreds of companies, serving customers worldwide
and a wafer production capacity of 100,000+ per year. The ecosystem currently consists of 26 companies, 11 technology partners and 12 R&D partners. Ewit Roos, CEO at PhotonDelta, said: ‘This investment is a game- changer. It will make the Netherlands home to the next generation of semiconductors, which will have a profound impact on the European tech industry.’
@electrooptics |
www.electrooptics.com
University of Michigan
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