Infleqtion is collaborating with researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU) to advance quantum sensing through machine learning techniques toward applications that require unprecedented positioning and navigation capabilities in real-world environments.

Quantum sensors based on ultracold atoms have applications in geological exploration, remote sensing, medical imaging, and positioning and navigation. Capitalizing on the Nobel Prize-recognized achievement of Bose-Einstein Condensation at CU, ultracold atom-based quantum technology can realize substantial performance gains compared to today's classical sensing technology.

Today, many systems rely on GPS for position information. Yet, GPS is limited because it depends on line-of-sight, and signals can be disrupted or jammed by environmental factors or malicious actors, resulting in errors that can be dangerous under critical applications in the transportation industry, such as aviation, marine, and autonomous vehicle navigation. Moreover, there are several scenarios in which GPS is simply unavailable, such as underwater or in space, so other means of determining position are necessary. This is where the exquisite sensing capabilities of quantum technology come into play.

Ultracold atom sensors take advantage of the extraordinary sensitivity of quantum matter to precisely measure physical quantities such as magnetic, electric, and gravitational fields. In navigation applications, ultracold atoms are extremely sensitive and accurate sensors of accelerations and rotations, avoiding the dependence on external GPS signals. While classical sensor technology also exists to address these tasks, orders of magnitude better performance is possible with sensors that operate at the limits allowed by the laws of quantum mechanics. 

The collaboration between CU and Infleqtion is a pioneering effort to develop novel machine learning methods to perform quantum signal processing of the signals generated by ultracold atom sensors operating at their quantum limit. This brings an entirely new dimension to the domain of sensing, combining recent advances in quantum information theory and artificial intelligence with the real-world, real-time field of quantum sensing.

Machine learning-enabled quantum signal processing provides a means of leveraging the quantum mechanical aspects of ultracold atom sensors. They are optimally tuned for the task at hand, such as detecting the signature of small vibrations and movements for predicting and mitigating natural disasters. For example, quantum sensing has applications for precise measurement of the Earth's gravity field, enabling terrestrial geophysical prospecting and seismic monitoring and space-based monitoring of large-scale phenomena such as the melting of the polar ice caps. 

CU's research, education, and entrepreneurship initiatives have been central to quantum technology development. CU researchers have significantly contributed to advancing the next generation of atomic clocks, quantum computers, and quantum sensing technologies.

“At Infleqtion, we pride ourselves on our long-standing history of developing deployable compact quantum hardware. Our expertise in this area is unparalleled, and now, by combining it with the cutting-edge capabilities being developed at CU, we are poised to lead in the field of software-defined quantum sensors, a revolutionary solution for today's challenges in navigation,” said Anjul Loiacono, VP, Quantum Signal Processing at Infleqtion.

Infleqtion has a long history of advancing quantum sensing technology, including supplying the Quantum Core™ atomic system for the Cold Atom Lab (CAL) on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA's CRS 19 mission in 2018. CAL’s experiments demonstrated the potential of quantum sensing technologies to revolutionize a wide range of applications, from navigation and positioning to geological exploration and medical imaging. One experiment on CAL created an accelerometer with 10,000x performance gains and a magnetometer with 100x improvements. 

In addition to CAL, Infleqtion’s team is working with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on the High-Bandwidth Inertial Atom Source & Sensor (High-BIAS2) project. High-BIAS2 will demonstrate a quantum rotation sensor's ability to stabilize the orientation of aircraft guidance systems without Global Navigation Satellite System signals (GNSS). This increases safety and security by protecting against signal loss, jamming, and spoofing.

Infleqtion is pleased to continue the advancement of quantum sensing with the team at CU, led by Professors Dana Anderson and Murray Holland at JILA, a joint institute of NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder. Anderson’s experimental group focuses on developing cold atom sensors, while Holland’s theory group studies quantum gases and quantum optics. 

The combination of quantum sensing and machine learning has the potential to revolutionize our ability to measure and analyze the world around us. As these technologies continue to develop and improve, Infleqtion plans to provide commercial software-defined quantum sensor solutions to address these new applications across industrial and national security fields.

About Infleqtion

Infleqtion is building an ecosystem of quantum technologies and commercial products for today that will drive the company and the entire industry toward tomorrow. The company believes in taking quantum to its limit and leading from the edge. Infleqtion is built on 16 years of pioneering quantum research from ColdQuanta. Its scalable and versatile quantum technology is used by organizations around the globe and deployed by NASA on the International Space Station. Infleqtion is based in Boulder, CO, with offices in Chicago, IL; Madison, WI; Melbourne, AU and Oxford, UK. Find out how Infleqtion is building the future at www.Infleqtion.com.