#cold atom quantum sensor

[govindhtech]

Aquark Technologies Achieves Quantum Milestone Underwater

Aquark Tech

Quantum technology startup Aquark Technologies from Southampton, UK, reached a milestone. The company completed the first underwater cold atom quantum sensor test. This pioneering experiment employed Boaty McBoatface, the NOC's autonomous submersible. The test at NOC's indoor tank facility was a major step towards using quantum sensing technology outside of labs, the company claimed.

Aquark tested their AQuest system in a controlled aquatic setting that mimicked underwater conditions. The purpose was to collect performance data at different pressures and temperatures. This data collection focused on sensor cold atom trap performance and stability. The trial results are expected to improve the technology and prepare it for usage in harsh environments like the deep sea or rocky terrain where accurate sensing is needed. Despite these challenges, Aquark said the cold atom trap collected “a boatload of data” during the test.

Aquark's innovation centres on a tiny cold atom trap. This approach cools atoms towards absolute zero with lasers. This approach allows atoms to be used in very sensitive sensors that sense motion, time, and magnetic fields better than traditional instruments. The Aquark Super Molasses Trap (SMT) was employed in the underwater test.

The successful test is important because holding cold atoms in an unstable and noisy underwater vehicle was a big engineering challenge. Previous cold atom trap investigations were done in well controlled labs. Boaty McBoatface's success proves Aquark's design's durability. The company says the compact, power-efficient technology may be used in remote or mobile devices. It was the first time a cold atom trap was tested underwater, according to Villius Atkočius, Quantum Systems Engineer at Aquark Technologies. He noted that the “underwater world is less understood than space,” stressing its vast potential.

Aquark's technology has several applications and strategic implications. Finding ways to travel underwater without GPS signals might be useful, especially for underwater fighting. The sensors might also assess mineral density beneath the sea bottom using high-sensitivity magnetic field readings or gravity measurements, allowing scientists to “see things that were previously hidden.”

Seeing their platform function alongside NOC’s Autosub – known as Boaty McBoatface – was a genuine victory for both science and pleasure', said Aquark technology Co-Founder & CEO Andrei Dragomir. The success has 'opened new possibilities for research enabled by quantum technologies'. Technology may “uncover some hidden treasures!” he speculated. Villius Atkočius claims that gravity sensing platforms like Aquark's SMT are more reliable than magnetic field sensing for long-duration underwater or polar operations.

Additionally, the technology may expand medical diagnostics. The idea received support from NATO's DIANA Accelerator Program, which accelerates military and dual-use deep tech enterprises. Quantum sensing might offer a “substantial contribution” to seabed photography and underwater navigation, says NOC Marine Autonomous and Robotics Systems Head Dr. Alex Phillips. These preliminary experiments suggest quantum technologies are ready for underwater vehicles like Autosub Long Range.

This experiment is a major step towards real-world quantum sensing. After receiving early funding and building a minimal viable product, Aquark is prepared for commercial deployment. The business aims to make the most energy-efficient and compact cold atom core on the market that can work outside of lab settings.

For more details visit Govindhtech.com

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

NASA Aims to Fly First Quantum Sensor for Gravity Measurements

This mission will pave the way for groundbreaking observations of everything from petroleum reserves to global supplies of fresh water.

Researchers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, private companies, and academic institutions are developing the first space-based quantum sensor for measuring gravity. Supported by NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), this mission will mark a first for quantum sensing and will pave the way for groundbreaking observations of everything from petroleum reserves to global supplies of fresh water.

Earth’s gravitational field is dynamic, changing each day as geologic processes redistribute mass across our planet’s surface. The greater the mass, the greater the gravity.

You wouldn’t notice these subtle changes in gravity as you go about your day, but with sensitive tools called gravity gradiometers, scientists can map the nuances of Earth’s gravitational field and correlate them to subterranean features like aquifers and mineral deposits. These gravity maps are essential for navigation, resource management, and national security.

“We could determine the mass of the Himalayas using atoms,” said Jason Hyon, chief technologist for Earth Science at JPL and director of JPL’s Quantum Space Innovation Center. Hyon and colleagues laid out the concepts behind their Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder (QGGPf) instrument in a recent paper in EPJ Quantum Technology.

Gravity gradiometers track how fast an object in one location falls compared to an object falling just a short distance away. The difference in acceleration between these two free-falling objects, also known as test masses, corresponds to differences in gravitational strength. Test masses fall faster where gravity is stronger.

Cooled to a temperature near absolute zero, the particles in these clouds behave like waves. The quantum gravity gradiometer will measure the difference in acceleration between these matter waves to locate gravitational anomalies.

Using clouds of ultra-cold atoms as test masses is ideal for ensuring that space-based gravity measurements remain accurate over long periods of time, explained Sheng-wey Chiow, an experimental physicist at JPL. “With atoms, I can guarantee that every measurement will be the same. We are less sensitive to environmental effects.”

Using atoms as test masses also makes it possible to measure gravity with a compact instrument aboard a single spacecraft. QGGPf will be around 0.3 cubic yards (0.25 cubic meters) in volume and weigh only about 275 pounds (125 kilograms), smaller and lighter than traditional space-based gravity instruments.

Quantum sensors also have the potential for increased sensitivity. By some estimates, a science-grade quantum gravity gradiometer instrument could be as much as 10 times more sensitive at measuring gravity than classical sensors.

The main purpose of this technology validation mission, scheduled to launch near the end of the decade, will be to test a collection of novel technologies for manipulating interactions between light and matter at the atomic scale.

“No one has tried to fly one of these instruments yet,” said Ben Stray, a postdoctoral researcher at JPL. “We need to fly it so that we can figure out how well it will operate, and that will allow us to not only advance the quantum gravity gradiometer, but also quantum technology in general.”

This technology development project involves significant collaborations between NASA and small businesses. The team at JPL is working with AOSense and Infleqtion to advance the sensor head technology, while NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland is working with Vector Atomic to advance the laser optical system.

Ultimately, the innovations achieved during this pathfinder mission could enhance our ability to study Earth, and our ability to understand distant planets and the role gravity plays in shaping the cosmos. “The QGGPf instrument will lead to planetary science applications and fundamental physics applications," said Hyon.

IMAGE: A map of Earth’s gravity. Red indicates areas of the world that exert greater gravitational pull, while blue indicates areas that exert less. A science-grade quantum gravity gradiometer could one day make maps like this with unprecedented accuracy. Credit: NASA

[michaelgabrill]

NASA Demonstrates Ultra-Cool Quantum Sensor for First Time in Space

Future space missions could use quantum technology to track water on Earth, explore the composition of moons and other planets, or probe mysterious cosmic phenomena. NASA’s Cold Atom Lab, a first-of-its-kind facility aboard the International Space Station, has taken another step toward revolutionizing how quantum science can be used in space. Members of the science […] from NASA https://ift.tt/umrcWFg

[edgythoughts]

What Is the Photoelectric Effect 2025

What Is the Photoelectric Effect 2025

Light Isn’t Just Light — It Can Knock Electrons Out Cold Okay, let’s not pretend the name doesn’t sound like a sci-fi gadget from a Marvel movie: “The Photoelectric Effect.” But behind the flashy title is something that flipped physics on its head — and gave us the first real glimpse that light isn’t just a wave… it’s got a particle side too. This wasn’t some minor update. It cracked open the door to quantum mechanics — the weirdest corner of science. The kind where particles can teleport, be in two places at once, and light acts like it’s having an identity crisis. And it all started with a question that was so simple, it almost felt silly: What happens when you shine light on a metal? Let’s break it down. The Classic Setup: Light + Metal = Something Wild Imagine you have a metal plate — let’s say it’s clean, shiny, minding its own business. Now shine some ultraviolet light on it. What happens? Not much at first glance. But look closer, and you'll see electrons — tiny, invisible little guys — flying off the surface of the metal. Light hits it, and BOOM: electrons pop out. That’s the photoelectric effect. Light literally knocking electrons loose from atoms. Now, scientists in the 1800s thought: “Okay, light is a wave, like water. So if we shine a bright enough beam, eventually it should knock the electrons out.” But no. That’s not what happened. Even the brightest light couldn’t do anything… unless it was the right kind of light — high enough frequency (think ultraviolet, not red). And the electrons didn’t trickle out slowly — they came out fast, instantly, with no delay. So what the heck?

Enter Einstein, Destroyer of Classical Physics In 1905, Albert Einstein said something that blew the roof off physics: “What if light comes in tiny energy packets? Not waves… but particles?” He called them quanta (plural of quantum), and later we called them photons. Einstein said, if a photon has enough energy — it can knock out an electron, like a cosmic game of pool. But if the photon doesn’t have enough energy (meaning low frequency), it doesn’t matter how many you fire — the electrons won’t budge. That explanation worked perfectly. And with that, the photoelectric effect became the smoking gun that light had a dual personality: sometimes a wave, sometimes a particle. This idea was so groundbreaking, it won Einstein the Nobel Prize. Not for relativity. For this. Let that sink in. Why It Still Blows Minds in 2025 We take so much for granted today. Solar panels on rooftops. Sensors in cameras. Night vision goggles. All powered by principles built on the photoelectric effect. But at its heart, this isn’t just about light and electrons. It’s about the fact that the universe plays by rules that are anything but intuitive. The moment we thought we had it all figured out — the photoelectric effect said, “Nice try. Try again.” That’s what makes it so beautiful. It’s one of those rare things in science that forces you to sit down, shut up, and admit: “I really don’t know what’s going on here.” And yet… that’s exactly where discovery starts. Easy Explanation Time (Aka: The Funny Breakdown) Alright, let’s get silly and relatable for a sec: - Imagine your phone is locked and only opens with a specific knock. - You try tapping it with your finger, yelling at it, shaking it — nothing. - Then you realize: it only unlocks when you hit it with a spoon. Not just any spoon — a titanium spoon, swung at just the right speed. That’s kind of like the photoelectric effect. The metal doesn’t care how much light you throw at it — it only reacts to the right “kind” of light. High-frequency light = titanium spoon. Low-frequency light = floppy noodle. Even if you throw 10,000 noodles, nothing’s happening. But one clean titanium spoon? Door opens. Quantum physics in action. Why You Should Care (Even If You’re Not a Science Person) This little effect changed how we see light, energy, and matter itself. It paved the way for: - Quantum computing - Modern electronics - Solar technology - Lasers and fiber optics But beyond the tech — it reminds us that even the smallest things in life (like a single photon) can make massive impact… if they’re in the right place, with the right energy. There’s something poetic about that. External Resource: Want to dive deeper into the science? Check the Wikipedia page: Photoelectric Effect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoelectric_effect Related Articles from EdgyThoughts.com: Why Is Quantum Tunneling So Hard to Visualize 2025 https://edgythoughts.com/why-is-quantum-tunneling-so-hard-to-visualize-2025 Why Is Zero So Powerful in Math 2025 https://edgythoughts.com/why-is-zero-so-powerful-in-math-2025 Read the full article

[jcmarchi]

Scientists Observe Long-Predicted Superconductor Property Using a Quantum Simulator - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/scientists-observe-long-predicted-superconductor-property-using-a-quantum-simulator-technology-org/

Scientists Observe Long-Predicted Superconductor Property Using a Quantum Simulator - Technology Org

Superconductivity makes physics seem like magic. At cold temperatures, superconducting materials allow electricity to flow indefinitely while expelling outside magnetic fields, causing them to levitate above magnets. MRIs, maglev trains and high-energy particle accelerators use superconductivity, which also plays a crucial role in quantum computing, quantum sensors and quantum measurement science. Someday, superconducting electric grids might deliver power with unprecedented efficiency.

Researchers observed the new phases in superconductor interactions, which could help build more robust superconductors. Credit: JILA/Steven Burrows

Yet scientists lack full control over conventional superconductors. These solid materials often comprise multiple kinds of atoms in complicated structures that are difficult to manipulate in the lab. It’s even harder to study what happens when there’s a sudden change, such as a spike in temperature or pressure, that throws the superconductor out of equilibrium.

Quantum theory has predicted intriguing behaviors when a superconductor is driven out of equilibrium. But it has been challenging to perturb these materials in the lab without disrupting their delicate superconducting properties, leaving these predictions untested.

However, scientists can obtain surprisingly deep insights into superconductivity by studying it with fully controllable arrays of atoms in a gas. That is the approach of a research collaboration at JILA, a joint institute of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder.

In their latest work, JILA researchers caused a gas of strontium atoms to act like a superconductor. Even though the strontium atoms themselves are not superconducting, they follow the same rules of quantum physics. The researchers could make atoms in a gas interact in a way that preserves the sorts of interactions responsible for superconductivity while suppressing other competing, complex interactions. By throwing the atoms out of equilibrium, the researchers saw changes in atomic interactions that would affect the properties of actual superconductors.

With their strontium gas acting as a “quantum simulator,” the researchers were able to observe a behavior of superconductors that has been predicted to exist for years. This study, published in Nature, offers new insight into how superconductors work when appropriately driven out of equilibrium, and sheds light on how to make superconductors more robust, and how to use their unique properties in other quantum technologies.

‘How Robust Are These Things?’

In a normal material, electrons move in an incoherent way, bumping into one another constantly; normally, electrons repel each other. As they move, they collide, losing energy and generating heat; that’s why electric currents dissipate when electrons flow in a metallic wire. In a superconductor, however, electrons join up into weakly bonded pairs, called Cooper pairs. When these pairs form, they all tend to move coherently, and that is why they flow through the material with no resistance.

The physics is simple in some sense, explains theoretical physicist Ana Maria Rey, a NIST and JILA Fellow. Cooper pairs exist in a low-energy state because vibrations in the material’s crystalline structure pull the electrons together. When formed, Cooper pairs prefer to act coherently and lock together. The Cooper pairs are kind of like “arrows” that want to line up in the same direction. To unlock them or make one of the arrows point along a different direction, you need to add extra energy to break the Cooper pairs, Rey explains. The energy that you need to add to unlock them is called an energy gap. Stronger interactions between the atoms create a larger energy gap because the attraction that keeps the Cooper pairs locked is so strong. Overcoming that energy gap takes a lot of energy away from the Cooper pairs. So this energy gap acts as a buffer, letting the Cooper pairs remain happily locked in phase.

This all works when the system is in equilibrium. But when you introduce a sudden, rapid change, the superconductor falls out of equilibrium, or becomes “quenched.” For decades, scientists have wanted to know what happens to superconductivity following a quench that is abrupt but not so strong to completely break the Cooper pairs, said JILA physicist James Thompson.

“In other words, how robust are these things?” Thompson said.

Theorists predicted three different possibilities or phases that could happen when the superconductor is quenched. Think of it like a big group of square dancers, Thompson says. At first everyone is in sync, keeping to the beat of the music. Then some people get a little tired or some others start moving a little too fast, they crash into each other, and it turns into a mosh pit. That’s Phase I, when superconductivity collapses. In Phase II, the dancers get off the beat, but manage to stay in sync. Superconductivity survives the quench. Scientists have been able to observe and study these two phases.

But they have never seen a long-predicted third phase, in which the superconductivity of the system oscillates over time. In this phase, our dancers will move a bit faster or a bit slower at times, but no one crashes. That means sometimes it’s a weaker superconductor, and sometimes it’s a stronger superconductor. Until now, no one had been able to observe that third phase.

‘Everything Flows’

Working with Rey’s theory group, Thompson’s team at JILA laser-cooled and loaded strontium atoms into an optical cavity, a space with highly reflective mirrors at either end. Laser light bounces back and forth millions of times before some light leaks out at one end.

The light in the cavity mediated interactions between the atoms, causing them to align into a superposition state — meaning they are in both the excited and ground state at the same time — and to lock in phase, like Cooper pairs do, Rey explains.

Using lasers, scientists can quench the system, and by measuring the light that leaks out, they learn how the energy gap has changed over time. With this quantum superconductor simulation, they were able to observe all three dynamic phases for the first time.

They found that in the third phase the energy gap can keep superconductivity going even when the system is out of equilibrium. Using quantum simulators like this could help scientists engineer unconventional or more robust superconductors, and better understand the physics of superconductors in general.

It’s also a counterintuitive way for scientists who work in measurement science to see atomic interactions, like the ones that cause the energy gap, as a benefit, not a curse.

“In measurement science, interactions are usually bad. But here, when interactions are strong, they can help you. The gap protects the system — everything flows,” Rey says. “At the heart of this idea you could have something that oscillates forever.”

Having something that oscillates forever is a dream for quantum technology, Thompson adds, because it would let sensors work better for longer. Much like the superconductors, groups of atoms, photons and electrons in quantum sensors need stay in sync, or coherent, to work, and we don’t want them to turn into a quantum mosh pit or “dephase.”

“I am stoked that one of the dynamical phases that we observe can be used to protect quantum optical coherence against dephasing.  For instance, this may one day allow an optical atomic clock to tick for longer,” Thompson said. “It represents a whole new way to increase the precision and sensitivity of quantum sensors, a topic that is at the frontier of quantum metrology, or measurement, science. We want to harness the many atoms and take advantage of the interactions to build a better sensor.”

Paper: Dylan J. Young, et al. Observing dynamical phases of BCS superconductors in a cavity QED simulator. Nature. Published online Jan. 24, 2024. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06911-x

Source: NIST

You can offer your link to a page which is relevant to the topic of this post.

[scifi4wifi]

The Coolest Experiment In Space - A 5th State of Matter

Bose-Einstein condensates, a quantum gas made of two kinds of atoms, was created in the International Space Station’s (ISS) microgravity. The gas can be used to make super-sensitive sensors, and used for new experiments. In the NASA Cold Atom Lab facility aboard the ISS, researchers were able to produce Bose-Einstein condensates, a quantum state of matter made from an atomic gas cooled to…

[militaryleak]

Aquark Technologies Demonstrates Airborne Cold Atom System on A Small Drone

Aquark Technologies has successfully demonstrated continuous trapping of cold atoms suitable for sensing while flying on a drone. The world first achievement will support an array of applications, including enhanced navigation, precise measurements, and situational awareness, all with the potential to revolutionize multiple industries. Aquark Technologies recently conducted field trials validating the trapping, cooling, and continuous operation of cold atoms while airborne on a quadcopter drone. The trials were run in partnership and joint-funded by MBDA and Innovate UK (Project: 10028190) and flown by Wright Airborne Computing. The entire system, weighing less than 10 kg, withstood freezing temperatures, high humidity fog, and complex manoeuvres, operating for over an hour on internal power during full-day trials. Cold atom-based quantum technology leverages group one or two elements, such as Rubidium, in ultra-high vacuum conditions (>10-8 mbar) and precisely tuned lasers to confine and slow down atoms for the manipulation of quantum states of superposition and entanglement. Cold atom-based quantum technology offer significant improvements for quantum computing and high-precision sensors, with implications for measuring: time, acceleration, electromagnetic waves, Magnetic fields, and rotation. Aquark’s unique and patented approach to trapping and cooling atoms without using magnetic fields makes these systems smaller, simpler, and more cost-effective.

Aquark Technologies has successfully demonstrated continuous trapping of cold atoms suitable for sensing while flying on a drone. The world first achievement will support an array of applications, including enhanced navigation, precise measurements, and situational awareness, all with the potential to revolutionize multiple industries. Aquark Technologies recently conducted field trials…

[wayti-blog]

Always makes me chuckle when scientists discover something about the laws of nature/the universe and call it “weird” or “odd”.

[cool-crap-daily]

Here is a cool thing I wrote. It's meant to be a prologue, but the book it's a prologue to doesn't exist because I am lazy. If you don't like it, too bad, you just read the whole thing sucks to be you ig.

Earth. 

    A planet full of natural wonders, rich in resources, and green with life, reduced to a festering pile of rubble and poverty. Not decimated by some outside force, no, it was ruined by scientific advancement and the sinfulness of man. The paragons of those horrors were called The Ascended. The Ascended were a group of individuals who had used the secrets of The Breakthrough to ‘ascend’. Each of them gained levels of power akin to those of the gods of legend. Every man, woman, and child in The Empire knew their names. Havoc, Seraphim, Volt, Stratagem, Hive, and finally, The Beholder.

    Havoc mastered the art of destruction. Originally the CEO of the world's leading weapons manufacturer, "Arcturus Armaments", The Breakthrough allowed him to fuse his mortal form with the instruments of chaos he created. Wielding atomic lasers and hypersonic rail-cannons as well as a panoply of other ordinances, he became an unstoppable courier of fire and death. To top it all off, his body was armor-plated in a composite meta-material that left him virtually invincible.

    Seraphim, the biological angel of life, had mastered the power of healing, the inverse of Havoc. Once the world's foremost scientist of medical studies, she created technologies that saved millions of lives. After the breakthrough, however, she melded herself with prototype machines she'd been working on in secret and obtained the ultimate treasure. The terrible prize that so many in history had sought after. Immortality. Any wounds she received closed as quickly as they opened, her aging halted in its tracks. She had an immune system aided by nanotech so that no pathogen stood a chance against her. Alas, she gave in to her dark fantasies of endless reign and destroyed all notes, machines, and evidence of her immortality tech, so that only she would be without a mortal end.

    Volt, the mover of mountains and Hermes incarnate, was once a man known as Ahmad Cunningham. He was the lead engineer of Athletonics Inc, the world's largest manufacturer of cybernetics, as well as his own startup: Fusoria Industries, the most advanced in Fusion power research. Using The Breakthrough, he molded his body into his most ambitious exoskeleton yet. This suit had so much potential that it needed impossible amounts of power to function. The only thing that could fuel such a bionic juggernaut was a prototype fusion reactor that he incorporated into the design. He could run and fly at incomprehensible speeds and could deliver enough energy in a single blow to flatten a skyscraper.

    Stratagem, the shadow of the abyss and master of illusion, was a trillionaire like the others in her former life, but her field of choice was espionage and stealth technologies. The Breakthrough allowed her to become nothing but a whisper on the airwaves, just a flickering of distortion on the edge of the most advanced cameras on the planet. She cloaked herself in stealth tech decades ahead of anything else ever conceived. She was completely invisible to the naked eye, and utterly silent to the ear. The only sensors that could hope to detect her were the ones she herself invented and replaced her eyes with. She could look through concrete walls and magnify her view enough to see miles away.

    Hive, the unfeeling swarm of symmetrical horror, was born out of a man named Stewart Stanford, the Head of Robotics and Androids Research of Rubicon Industries. Rubicon Industries used to be a competitor of Athletonics Inc. until the Ascended took over. Utilizing The Breakthrough, he uploaded his consciousness into his company’s hypercomputers, which were capable of processing petabytes of information per second. In doing so he gained unbelievable power but lost his humanity. After stealing FTL communication tech from a competing company, he could command his legion of millions of drones as if they were his body, seeing through myriads of eyes, controlling an endless swarm of weapons and tools. He could mine resources to create more drone factories and computers for himself, and there was nothing to stop him from doubling his forces every few weeks if left unchecked.

    The final member of the Ascended was The Beholder. Unlike the others, who are all incredibly infamous, few knew much about The Beholder. He used to work as a scientist at Tesseract Labs, whose main goal was to discover the secrets of quantum mechanics and dimensional dynamics. Before The Breakthrough, they had produced an FTL communication prototype, but it had vanished mysteriously, and they lost their government grants. Just before they shut down, an infinite number of new avenues for research opened up thanks to The Breakthrough. The lab was back in action. Using the power of The Breakthrough, they built a machine to study the secrets of existence itself. The machine was to a particle accelerator as a particle accelerator was to a particularly uninteresting rock. Alas, the scientists became arrogant and dug too deep, and it cost them everything. A horrible calamity struck as they probed into the folds of reality, ripping the entire facility out of the fabric of the universe and whipping it into the deepest Oblivion as the machine imploded. 

    The only survivor, if one could even call him that, was the man who was operating the machine during the calamity. Alexander Belton. The Beholder. His consciousness was caught between the two sides of the schism, split into an infinite number of parts and pieced together again over and over for an abstract eternity. Slowly, he learned to control the forces beyond reality and started to hold himself together. He built himself a physical form, found his way through the ever-changing miasma of the ethereal beyond back to our world. Coming back into existence crippled him, though, limiting his power and preventing him from ever leaving again. He anchored himself to this plane. Still, he was the most powerful of the Ascended by far, able to manipulate reality and travel through spacetime effortlessly, though not able to interact with the past. No one knew anything about where he was, what his motives were, or if the stories were even true. The other Ascended denied his existence, but endless numbers of sightings and stories of hope from the oppressed said otherwise.

    Together, the Ascended ruled the world uncontested, vowing a tentative truce, and promising to never allow anyone else to discover the secrets of The Breakthrough. They feared someone else could ascend using its power, jeopardizing their rule. They had scuffles occasionally, obliterating a few square miles of city here and there, but mostly they minded their business. They held a public meeting once a month to make decisions and ensure benevolent relations between them, as well as to agree on any new tenets to press onto the dying people of their world. They were corrupt, and they were only growing more so, but they enslaved the people in factories and power plants, under so much surveillance that the citizens were utterly powerless to stop them.

    Each of them controlled a different aspect of The Empire. Havoc was in charge of all military efforts as well as policing the citizens. His loyal knights carried out executions and silenced hope, armed with weapons that had power mirroring his own.

Seraphim was responsible for all biological research and plague control, as well as the only hospital left in existence. The Hospital was only open to the most elite, and only they could even afford a visit.

Volt was in charge of all power generation for The Empire. All electricity was generated by four massive fusion reactors, one in each district. Each absolutely dominated its skyline and required only tiny amounts of fuel to run in comparison. The fuel that they did need, however, was incredibly hard to produce, requiring tens of thousands of hours of manual labor involving harsh chemicals and radiation to create even a single gram.

Stratagem worked day and night to make sure that every square inch of The Empire was surveilled by one of her cameras, bugs, drones, or agents at all times. This way, the Ascended could stamp out any notion of an uprising or rebellion before it even began. She had hundreds of operatives who scoured The Empire and cyberspace for any intel or data that the Ascended could use.

Hive controlled all construction and resource gathering, his body made up of an endless swarm. If another thirty-story domestic housing unit needed to be constructed, it could be done overnight. Any steel or alloys that were required, he strip-mined from the less habitable parts of the planet, placed onto automated trains that carried them back to the factories. If any single part of the logistic chain was broken or destroyed, there was enough redundancy in the system that he could fix it in a matter of hours or even minutes.

Together, the six Ascended ruled The Empire with an iron fist, surveying their dystopia with cold, calculated, pride. They took comfort in the fact that no human alive could ever hope to topple their rule. It all worked like a well-oiled machine; oiled with blood, but oiled nonetheless. They sat on their thrones in The Floating Citadel, basking in the perverted glory of their ultimate abomination. Earth.

But seven became eight, and now, The Godhunter stalks her prey.

[Initiate Epic Soundtrack]

[spaceexp]

A Warm Space Station Welcome for Cool New Hardware

ISS - International Space Station logo. Dec. 18, 2019

Image above: Astronaut Christina Koch unloads new hardware for the Cold Atom Lab aboard the International Space Station the week of Dec. 9, 2020. Image Credit: NASA. Astronaut Christina Koch recently gave a warm welcome to a very cool arrival to the International Space Station: a new piece of hardware for the Cold Atom Lab, an experimental physics facility that chills atoms to almost absolute zero, or minus 459 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 273 degrees Celsius). That's colder than any known place in the universe. The Cold Atom Lab has been up and running in the space station's science module since July 2018 and is operated remotely from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Five groups of scientists on Earth are using the Cold Atom Lab to conduct a variety of experiments to help answer questions about how our world works at the smallest scales. The new hardware includes an instrument called an atom interferometer that will allow scientists to make subtle measurements of gravity and probe fundamental theories of gravity. Further development of this technology in space could lead to improved inertial-force sensors, which could be used to design tools for enhanced spacecraft navigation, to probe the composition and topology of planets and other celestial bodies, and to study Earth's climate. Chilling atoms to such low temperatures slows them down significantly, enabling scientists to study them more easily. (Room-temperature atoms move faster than the speed of sound, while ultracold atoms move slower than a garden snail.) Ultracold atom physics has led to breakthroughs such as the discovery of superfluidity and superconductivity, as well as the production of a fifth state of matter, called a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC). First predicted in the 1920s, BECs allow scientists to observe quantum behaviors of atoms on a macroscopic scale. Physicists have been using ultracold atom facilities in Earth-bound labs for more than 20 years. But CAL is the first such facility in Earth orbit, where the microgravity environment provides scientists longer observing times for individual bunches of atoms and may allow for colder temperatures than what can be achieved on the ground. Ultracold atoms also provide a window into quantum mechanics, where particles can behave in strange ways, such as spontaneously passing through physical barriers or communicating instantaneously over long distances. The study of quantum mechanics has led to the development of such ubiquitous technologies as lasers, semiconductors and transistors. By making the leap into Earth orbit, the Cold Atom Lab may open the door for the development of quantum technologies in space.

What’s So Cool About NASA’s Cold Atom Lab?

About the size of a mini refrigerator, the Cold Atom Lab will be equipped with the newly arrived hardware in 2020. Designed and built at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, the Cold Atom Lab was is sponsored by the International Space Station Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, and the Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications (SLPSRA) Division of NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Related links: Cold Atom Lab: https://coldatomlab.jpl.nasa.gov/ Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC): https://coldatomlab.jpl.nasa.gov/sciencebackground/ International Space Station (ISS): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html For more information about the Cold Atom Lab, go here: https://coldatomlab.jpl.nasa.gov/ Image, Video, Text, Credits: NASA/JPL/Calla Cofield. Greetings, Orbiter.ch Full article

[myfeeds]

Scientists have full state of a quantum liquid down cold

“In an era of quantum computing it’s vital to generate a precise characterization of the systems we are building,” explains Dries Sels, an assistant professor in New York University’s Department of Physics and an author of the paper, which appears in the journal Nature Physics. “This work reconstructs the full state of a quantum liquid, consistent with the predictions of a quantum field theory — similar to those that describe the fundamental particles in our universe.” Sels adds that the breakthrough offers promise for technological advancement. “Quantum computing relies on the ability to generate entanglement between different subsystems, and that’s exactly what we can probe with our method,” he notes. “The ability to do such precise characterization could also lead to better quantum sensors — another application area of quantum technologies.” The research team, which included scientists from Vienna University of Technology, ETH Zurich, Free University of Berlin, and the Max-Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, performed a tomography of a quantum system — the reconstruction of a specific quantum state with the aim of seeking experimental evidence of a theory. The studied quantum system consisted of ultracold atoms — slow-moving atoms that make the movement easier to analyze because of their near-zero temperature — trapped on an atom chip. In their work, the scientists created two “copies” of this quantum system — cigar-shaped clouds of atoms that evolve over time without influencing each other. At different stages of this process, the team performed a series of experiments that revealed the two copies’ correlations. “By constructing an entire history of these correlations, we can infer what is the initial quantum state of the system and extract its properties,” explains Sels. “Initially, we have a very strongly coupled quantum liquid, which we split into two so that it evolves as two independent liquids, and then we recombine it to reveal the ripples that are in the liquid. “It’s like watching the ripples in a pond after throwing a rock in it and inferring the properties of the rock, such as its size, shape, and weight.” This research was supported by grants from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-21-1-0236) and the U.S. Army Research Office (W911NF-20-1-0163) as well as the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and the German Research Research Foundation (DRG).

[govindhtech]

NASA launch First Space-Based Quantum Gravity Gradiometer

Pathfinder Quantum Gravity Gradiometer

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is preparing to launch the first space-based quantum gravity gradiometer alongside academic and small business partners. NASA's Earth Science Technology Office will test quantum sensing technologies for the Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder to monitor Earth's gravity field from orbit.

A NASA press release says the experiment will demonstrate how quantum sensors, particularly ultra-cold atom interferometry-based ones, can precisely identify gravitational anomalies. Mass redistribution under the Earth causes gravity changes that affect subsurface geology, national security, and water resource management.

It Works: Gravity Gradients and Ultra-Cold Atoms

Rubidium clouds frozen to practically zero will be QGGPf test masses. At this temperature, atoms function as matter waves, therefore two places in space may be accurately compared gravitationally. Gradiometers measure the gravity gradient, the difference in short-distance fall rates of two test masses. Increased acceleration from stronger gravitational fields lets scientists detect even modest mass distribution changes.

The press release states that ultra-cold atoms in space offer longer-lasting and more precise observations than mechanical test masses. “It can assure you that every measurement will be the same with atoms,” JPL experimental physicist Sheng-wey Chiow said. Atom-based sensors decrease drift and thermal noise, improving measurement stability over time.

QGGPf's fundamental sensor will weigh 125 kilogrammes and measure 0.25 cubic meters, smaller than traditional spaceborne gravity sensors. Previous forecasts suggest the quantum gadget will have 10 times the sensitivity of classical sensors despite its modest size. The mission aims to test the technology in orbit, but its findings may inform future planetary exploration and Earth study missions.

Progressing Space Quantum Technologies

This project shows NASA's quantum technology integration with scientific missions. “In order to determine how well it will function, as need to fly it,” said JPL postdoctoral researcher Ben Stray. That will help us create quantum technologies and the quantum gravity gradiometer.

Subsystems established through public-private partnership will underpin the instrument. While NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre works with Vector Atomic to produce laser systems for managing and detecting atomic clouds, JPL is working with AOSense and Infleqtion to enhance the atom interferometry sensor head.

Measurement Precision and Atom Interferometry

The QGGPf uses atom interferometry to quantify gravitational force-induced phase changes by splitting and recombining matter waves. The atomic clouds' acceleration speeds are closely tied to these phase changes. The gradiometer compares two free-falling clouds to map gravity gradients precisely.

JPL's Quantum Space Innovation Centre director and Chief Technologist for Earth Science, Jason Hyon, wrote in EPJ Quantum Technology on atom-based sensing's potential. Quantum equipment like QGGPf might evaluate mineral deposits and subsurface water reservoirs from space, according to Jason Hyon.

Utilisations and Prospects

Tectonic movement, glacier melting, groundwater extraction, and other geophysical processes modify Earth's gravitational field. These alterations must be precisely monitored for climate model improvement and environmental policy. NASA has relied on GRACE and GRACE-FO for gravity measurements, but QGGPf provides a novel sensing method that might replace or enhance gravimetry missions.

The QGGPf will launch at the end of the decade but largely serve as a technological pathfinder. This project might lead to small, high-precision quantum equipment for planetary research and Earth observation, as well as an operational quantum gravity gradiometer.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

New SpaceTime out Friday

SpaceTime 20241213 Series 27 Episode 150

Venus was never habitable according to new study

A new study has shown that the planet Venus has never been habitable, despite decades of speculation that the Earth’s sister planet was once much more like Earth than it is today.

Perseverance exploring the Jezero crater rim

NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover has been continuing its sightseeing tour of the Jezero crater rim, with this week's travel itinerary including an up-close look at Pico Turquino.

NASA Demonstrates ‘Ultra-Cool’ Quantum Sensor for First Time in Space

NASA’s Cold Atom Lab, a first-of-its-kind facility aboard the International Space Station, has taken another step toward revolutionizing how quantum science can be used in space.

The Science Report

Permafrost thawing could lead to an increase in wildfires in Arctic and sub-arctic regions.

New DNA forensics to help fight crime.

Earth’s oldest, largest, and most experienced animals being wiped out by human activity.

Skeptics guide to new Nessie images.

SpaceTime covers the latest news in astronomy & space sciences.

The show is available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Apple Podcasts (itunes), Stitcher, Google Podcast, Pocketcasts, SoundCloud, Bitez.com, YouTube, your favourite podcast download provider, and from www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com

SpaceTime is also broadcast through the National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio and on both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

SpaceTime daily news blog: http://spacetimewithstuartgary.tumblr.com/

SpaceTime facebook: www.facebook.com/spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime Instagram @spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime twitter feed @stuartgary

SpaceTime YouTube: @SpaceTimewithStuartGary

SpaceTime -- A brief history

SpaceTime is Australia’s most popular and respected astronomy and space science news program – averaging over two million downloads every year. We’re also number five in the United States.  The show reports on the latest stories and discoveries making news in astronomy, space flight, and science.  SpaceTime features weekly interviews with leading Australian scientists about their research.  The show began life in 1995 as ‘StarStuff’ on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) NewsRadio network.  Award winning investigative reporter Stuart Gary created the program during more than fifteen years as NewsRadio’s evening anchor and Science Editor.  Gary’s always loved science. He studied astronomy at university and was invited to undertake a PHD in astrophysics, but instead focused on his career in journalism and radio broadcasting. Gary’s radio career stretches back some 34 years including 26 at the ABC. He worked as an announcer and music DJ in commercial radio, before becoming a journalist and eventually joining ABC News and Current Affairs. He was part of the team that set up ABC NewsRadio and became one of its first on air presenters. When asked to put his science background to use, Gary developed StarStuff which he wrote, produced and hosted, consistently achieving 9 per cent of the national Australian radio audience based on the ABC’s Nielsen ratings survey figures for the five major Australian metro markets: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth.  The StarStuff podcast was published on line by ABC Science -- achieving over 1.3 million downloads annually.  However, after some 20 years, the show finally wrapped up in December 2015 following ABC funding cuts, and a redirection of available finances to increase sports and horse racing coverage.  Rather than continue with the ABC, Gary resigned so that he could keep the show going independently.  StarStuff was rebranded as “SpaceTime”, with the first episode being broadcast in February 2016.  Over the years, SpaceTime has grown, more than doubling its former ABC audience numbers and expanding to include new segments such as the Science Report -- which provides a wrap of general science news, weekly skeptical science features, special reports looking at the latest computer and technology news, and Skywatch – which provides a monthly guide to the night skies. The show is published three times weekly (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and available from the United States National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio, and through both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

[impalaanddemons]

Ad Astra - Chapter 3

A/N: Keva makes a decision. I stole the idea from @poetictrekkie but I swear there’s something bigger going on ;) Story: Keva Scofield is a young member of the relatively fresh Department of Temporal Investigations and prides herself in being a temporal agent. She is sent with Junior Agent Lorilee, temporal agent in training, to investigate the destruction of the freighter Mercury and the vanishing of its Captain and First Officer. It is there at a time rift she makes first contact with an entity that calls itself Q. about 3500 words This chapter is on ao3 Chapter 1 Chapter 2

Stardate: 49325.1 April 28, 2372 A Friday

Darkness held her in its comfortable envelope only for so long before she began to stir in uneasy dreams. She was floating in space again. Coldness and Darkness pressing against the helmet of her spacesuit as she swirled down into the mouth of the rift. Her drift was accompanied by the undeniable sensation of falling. Falling down and apart at the same time. Looking down into the mouth of physical hell and then looking up to watch herself fall down. It was all an effect of extreme physics pulling at her senses - different quantum states conflating and collapsing in quick succession until the most probable state settled in.

But the most probable?

She stirred again in her sleep, white fingers clawing into her sheets, digging her fingernails into the very biobed she was lying on. She saw the most probable states pass her again and again in a never-ending loop - her body crushed and pulled apart, forever locked in stasis. Shroedingers cat alive and dead and ultimately aware of itself. Ripped apart and kept together until the universe would eventually collapse on itself. Gravity was greedy. What it took into it’s hold it did not part with easily. Degraded to being a mere spectator at her own demise all that she felt in a million different timelines washed over her, bombarded her selves until tears welled up in her eyes once more. She lay on her biobed crying. Her heart rate elevated but not enough to force the holographic Doctor into existence at night, she dreamt a dream of thousand nights to come. And he was there. Watching curiously as her body warped and her mind held unto the training that had intended to prepare  her for a situation such as this. Intense lessons that were designed by vulcan scientists to will a person to withstand the counterintuitive reality each agent would face in their lifetime. Some broke. Some left the training and never came back. Flying - Falling - scattered atoms in a vast cosmos. A hand grabbed her shoulder hard. She awoke with a yelp. Keva was alone. A machine next to her bed was humming its monotone song all by itself. The lights were dimmed down to an absolute minimum and all other beds were empty. She lifted her hand and rubbed her forehead only for it to come back with cold sweat.

It’s okay.

She tried taking a deep breath - one of those forcing air deep down into the lungs until it hurt. It was just a dream. A memory. Past. The thought lingered on for a moment, prompted a question about what past was - and was quickly shoved to the side. It would do no good to ponder over that question right now. Later. There are a lot of questions I’ll have to attend to later. Neither the Doctor nor his assistance were in sight and the young agent assumed they’d gotten to bed in their quarters, although it struck her as unusual to leave sickbay and patience unattended at night. At least in her opinion, for what it was worth - how could she know how protocols had changed in a hundred years. „Look who’s awake.“ A shiver ran down her spine at the sound of the deep voice coming from inside all directions at once.

„You“, Keva exclaimed louder then she had intended to. Her voice was raw and she heard a tremble in it and despised herself for it. „Moi!“ the owner of said voice stepped out of the shadows of a corner. A place he couldn’t have been a mere second ago. It was simply impossible. He grinned a flashing grin and threw his hands into the air as if greeting an old friend from afar. „How long has it been dear agent? A hundred years? A hundred and two?“ he asked cheerily and stepped over to her bed with two long strides.

Keva Scofield hated puns and jokes related to time and this one was like rubbing salt into her open wounds. She groaned as she heaved herself into an upright position and ignored the pain that seemed to radiate from every inch of her body and directly into the nerves behind her right eye. „I will murder you in your sleep.“ she spat. Her heart rate monitor started to beep dangerously. „Good thing I don’t sleep then“, he quipped and eyed her for a moment. Disgust flickered across his face. „How.“ Agent Scofield felt her teeth grinding against each other. She could not resist to turn her head to follow him with her eyes as he started to circle her bed in an overtly casual manual. „I saved your life. Aren’t you grateful to your benevolent god?“ his voice was dripping with pride and she utterly resented it with every fiber of her being. „You pushed me.“ her hand shot forward in a sudden motion as he came back from circling behind her and her fingers clasped around his underarm. It was like gripping a running power line and she immediately drew back, yelling out in pain. All that remained of her touch was the bloody imprint of her fingers on his uniform. The young agent stared at him and then back at her hand. At cuts that had been carefully closed for healing and that were now bleeding again. „How dare you“ exclaimed the omnipotent as he assessed the mess on his uniform. With a mere snap of his fingers his uniform was impeccably clean again. „How unsanitary.“ he muttered and cocked his head ever so slightly. Instead of taking his distance from her he sat down next to her, uninvited. His eyes were searching her face, for what she didn’t know. „It really is true. No good deed goes unpunished.“ A deep sigh followed as if carrying a heavy burden all by himself. „Good deed.“ the brown headed woman repeated. Her voice sounded hollow at the statement. Unbelieving. She had reigned in her temperament enough to refrain from immediate violence. At least for the moment. „Indeed.“ he straightened the sheet covering her legs casually with his slender hands and she felt herself tense up against her will. „You pushed me into a fucking time rift.“ „Am I listening to a record on repeat here? Is that all that matters to you right now?“ he sighed, obviously bored by her choice of topic already. „Look at all the opportunities you get here! New people, new quadrant, new century. What an exciting change of scenery!“

His eyes roamed the room. „Not this perhaps. And not for me, of course. I’ve seen all the millennia there are. But for your little ape brain…“ he did not finish the sentence instead leading the tips of his thumb and his middle finger pressed together to his lips as if tasting a delicacy. „I am temporally displaced.“ Keva spoke up again, but weakly this time and just so overcoming her speechlessness. „This is one of the worst violations of the temporal directive I know. And I worked on Kirks file.“ He quirked his eyebrows curiously, amused. It was as if he was watching a toddler trying to wrestle him into submission. His look was oh so condescending and she could feel that temper of her flare again. „There are no temporal directives for an omnipotent“ he chuckled slightly. Even the simple idea of rules seemed to be out of his grasp. „Oh, and who has declared that?“ she raised her chin defiantly. „Well, the only person with any authority and, if you don’t mind me saying, competence to decide.“ he flashed a million dollar smile at her. „Good ol’ me.“

Keva Scofield actually snapped for air at the tremendous amount of pomp and ego presented to her. Lifting her chin even higher, she stared right back into the darkness of his eyes. Challenging. „I will personally arrest you, bring you to the DTI, so that you can stand trial for your crime.“

„Handcuffs and all?“ his voice was filled to the brim with shaking amusement and he stared right back at her - mustered those grey determined eyes, ready and unflinching in the face of … well … him. And then he laughed, again, loud and passionately. He produced a bouquet of roses from his back and set it down on his back before he got up slowly. „This is going to be so much fun.“ he sounded almost giddy at the thought of it. „I am almost tempted to peek at future  you. Skip right to the best part, mon cher.“ And then he grinned and snapped his finger and was gone with a flash of light. Agent Keva Scofield sat with her mouth gaping open - and filed another violation to her list of his misdeeds in her mind, trying to ignore the overbearing amount of flowers on her bed.

„Oh, you had a visitor. Strange. My sensors should have detected any person entering sickbay.“ Keva snapped back to attention and stared at the doctor. She opened her mouth to speak, reconsidered and carefully shoved the roses to a distance. It was impossible for her to tell how much time had passed since the omnipotents arrival and departure. „An unwanted visitor, yes.“ she muttered to herself. A second passed in which the Doctor stepped over to her. Medbays lights slowly came up at the same time and she wondered shortly wether it was incidental or just a routine on this ship. „Could you … get rid of those roses for me? I don’t know… burn them. Throw them out of an airlock. Something that sets a statement.“ her voice was sharp enough to cut glass and the Doctor hurried to pick up the bouquet with care. „If you have unwanted guests please inform me and I will restrict their access to sickbay for the remainder of your stay.“ he answered coolly, turning the flowers in his hands. „I doubt he belongs to your ship“ the young woman straightened herself some more, exercising the care she deemed necessary in her current situation. „If this is true we need to bring it up with our chief of security, Mr. Tuvok, as well as Captain Janeway herself. Intruders aboard are a sensitive topic for Voyager.“ She wondered if he was part vulcan. Something about his manner was overstudied, too on point to be actually natural. She couldn’t exactly pinpoint it, but something about him tipped her off. „It’s a pity“, he continued as he turned the roses over in his hands. „According to my databases these are de la Grifferaie. Which is actually impossible.“

With her voice raised she interrupted him: „Your … what again?“ „My databases.“ he repeated, while walking to his desk and putting the flowers down. „Being from the 23rd century you can’t know that. I am a holographic doctor.“ the hologram turned around to make his way back to her bed. „But I can assure you that I am as much part of this crew and as respected as any biological crew member on Voyager.“ his voice was filled to the brim with pride as he continued and, while talking, arrived at her bed to study the readings of her beds systems. „You’re not real then?“ she inquired, carefully studying his features. His brow furrowed slightly, in a way that made her feel slightly guilty for asking. Way to put your foot in your mouth, Keva. „As far as you are concerned, I am as real as any other member of the crew, Mrs. Scofield.“

Her lips pressed down into a thin line and she decided it was for the best to let him finish his work for the moment, lest she found another way to affront him. That way they both inhabited the medbay in silence, with minutes passing without any of them raising their voice again. To Keva it was an uncomfortable silence brought about by her clumsy curiosity at the doctor. For him, she wasn’t sure. After the first passing irritation - or what she had interpreted as irritation - he had settled back in checking her readings and consulting some display on her bed. „Your hand.“ he prompted her so suddenly that she nearly jumped out of her bed. „My..“ she began, but instead of finishing the sentence just offered him the hand she had touched the Q with. It was crusted with blood again. „Unusual.“ the doctor proclaimed, turning her hand in his. He felt just normal. Like any other human. „I will go over this with the dermal regenerator again.“ She just nodded along as he spoke and watched him get the regenerator and apply it to her hand. Her face went through a quick succession of expressions ranging from amazement to uncertainty. „That… doesn’t hurt as much as it did back in my time.“ she offered a weak smile. He raised his eyebrows at her for a second, then focused back on her hand. For someone who thought themselves as good as dead being touched felt oddly comforting - be it holographic or not. She wondered: Was inquiring about his technology considered inappropriate? „All you should feel is a slight tingle. Perhaps an itching sensation.“ She watched as the open cuts sealed under the blueish light.

„When I was still at the academy…“ she began, but it was barely a whisper - more to herself, then to convey any real meaning to the doctor. „I got hurt during combat training. Really stupid. I slipped on a mat and crashed face first into my opponent. Had to get dermal regeneration too. Hurt like hell.“ Another weak smile, now caught by his concerned look at her face. „So you are a member of starfleet after all.“ came a female alto from the door and made the both of them look up to her. „Ah, Captain. I just finished checking up on my patient. You can attend to her now but I’m afraid she’s not allowed to leave the medbay just yet.“ „Yes, Doctor. Thank you.“ the older woman said as she walked over to the Agent, bearing a kind smile. This time her entourage didn’t follow her around. They probably had to work. „Until I graduated, yes.“ Keva solely responded to keep the conversation going - and avoid another blunder this early in her morning. The captain took a detour from her way to the occupied bed to what looked like a square hole in the wall. „Do you want anything in the morning? Coffee? Tea?“ „Coffee.“ Keva watched the Captain carefully as she approached the square and stopped right in front of it. Did they have a food dispenser in sickbay? „Please.“ she added to that and with a nod and a ‚One coffee please, black‘ said coffee, mug included, appeared with an orange shimmer in the square. „Our replicator energy is limited, but you skipped six days of your rations and a mug of coffee won’t hurt.“ the captain smiled at her, now finally walking over to Kevas bed and setting the mug down on a table next to the bed. „Replicator.“ Keva repeated and felt stupid increasingly stupid - just repeating whatever novelty she encountered, like a parrot. „They look like food dispenser. Do they work on voice command?“ „Yes. But we do have a kitchen - you will get to know Neelix  canteen and food soon enough, no need to hurry.“

There was the shimmer of a smirk in the Captains eyes, a glint of amusement barely held back. Janeway had decided to skip on Neelix being a Talaxian - her stowaway wouldn’t know where to put him anyway, or how to picture him and she had the distinct feeling that a hundred years of catch up where enough for Keva to deal with for now. She had decided to skip on a lot of things, actually. Keva took the mug with shivering hands and nipped at the drink. It tasted just like the real thing. „That’s good.“ her lips curled into an honest, thankful smile. „I have asked my security officer to compose a file of important developments over the last hundred years.“ the Captain pulled a small PADD from her belt and put it where the mug had stood before. „It hardly covers anything. I’ve asked him to focus on things you absolutely need to know - wars, technological advancements, species and diplomatics.“ Keva took another sip from her mug. The bitter fluid left a warm feeling in her gut. She simply nodded along as the captain was talking, throwing only a short look at the PADD itself. „It starts with an introduction on anything you might encounter on this ship. Especially.“ the Captain cleared her throat as if trying to gather a few more seconds to carefully formulate what she was about to say. „Especially our Klingon crew members." The expression on Kevas face fell into consternation, then shock and soon after a carefully crafted image of composure. „Your what now?“ she asked nonetheless, lowering the mug into her lap. „Klingons are part of the federation now. You’ll find everything in the file and I am sure you’ll get used to it sooner then you can imagine.“

The captains little speech only earned her a suspicious look from the agent. „Now, read this whenever you feel like it. You have been assigned quarters. Tom will show you to them as soon as the Doctor declares you’re good to go.“ „Which won’t be today.“ came the Doctors voice from his desk. He seemed inclined on reminding them that he was still present in the room and listening.

Janeway just smiled and Keva, now again nipping at her mug of coffee wondered if she could grow to like this woman and her warm smile. The way she carried herself around. She was starfleet, through and through. The agent could practically feel the starfleet vibes in her bones. She let the gaze of her grey eyes drop down onto the mug and watched the sloshing liquid that was left in it. „Captain.“ she then began, followed by another one of those deep breath that seemed to become a bad habit for her lately. „Yes, Agent Scofield?“ „The man. I told you about.“ Keva lifted her gaze again to watch the woman now. „He pushed me into the rift, back downtime. He’s responsible for me being here.“ She felt how the terror crept up on her again. Could see that same terror reflected in the other woman’s eyes. „Keva…“ „My .. systems failed. I don’t know why. Or how. Contact to the Janus, our ship, broke. The thrusters of my suit didn’t work anymore. I …“ Another deep breath, this time to calm herself. To shove the memory away, capsulate it into a corner of her mind to be investigated, not felt, not heard, not experienced. Not right now. „I’m so sorry, Keva.“ once again the Captain put her hand on Kevas, trying to reassure her of her safety here. „Do you know who this man was?“ „That’s it, you know. He was here. Last night. He brought me flowers.“ the young agent watched concern grow in Janeways face. Wrinkles and deep furrows appearing where smooth skin had been before. „He says his name is Q.“ Now there was something else in Janeways expression - the furrows intensified as her mouth fell open, then closed again and opened once more. She hit the badge on her chest. „Tuvok, alert all security personnel to yellow alert. I want a heightened security presence on all decks and be informed of all unusual occurrences." „Understood, Captain.“ the answer was swift and precise. The leveled baritone voice had something distinctly vulcan about it. „Janeway out.“ The captain tapped her badge again. Keva could not help herself but feel impressed by the military efficiency of it all. She had hated starfleet, but there was no denying that whatever these people did, it miraculously tended to work out. „Q…“ Janeway sneered with bared teeth. It was comfortable to see that she was not alone with her feeling of resentment against this creature. „So you got caught in one of his perverse games. I am sorry for that.“

Agent Keva Scofield remained silent for a moment, pondering over the sympathy of the - her? - captain. She then shook her head very slowly, deliberately and clenched her teeth. Her eyes locked with those of the Captain, determined and passionate to a fault. „No, Captain Janeway. Don’t pity me. I will arrest this man and bring him in for temporal trial.“ Janeway stared at her in stunned silence.

TAGLIST @flowerbunbunny @winterknightdragon @poetictrekkie @foxyverse

[andrewkortyna]

ColdQuanta’s Cold Atom Method of Atomic Clock Development

Andrew Kortyna is an experimental physicist with a PhD from Wesleyan University. Since 2019, Andrew Kortyna has spearheaded R&D for a cold atom-based atomic clock with ColdQuanta in Boulder, Colorado.

A quantum atomics company that develops a range of positioning, sensor, computing, and communication systems, ColdQuanta received $2.8 million in development funds from several US military and aerospace organizations in 2019. These funds have contributed to ColdQuanta’s R&D efforts, including the development of its cold atom-based atomic clock.

To create an extremely robust and precise atomic clock, ColdQuanta has pioneered a transformational cold atom technology that employs laser cooling to bring atoms close to absolute zero. The outside surface of this system, however, remains at ambient air temperature. This makes the atomic clock, as either a standalone unit or an integrated component of other devices, ideal for use in a wide range of deployments and hostile environments. In addition to supercooling atoms, the cold atomic clock uses lasers to hold atoms in place and change their quantum states to serve a variety of versatile purposes.

[jcmarchi]

New tools will help study quantum chemistry aboard the International Space Station - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/new-tools-will-help-study-quantum-chemistry-aboard-the-international-space-station-technology-org/

New tools will help study quantum chemistry aboard the International Space Station - Technology Org

At NASA’s Cold Atom Lab facility aboard the International Space Station, an international team of scientists produced a quantum gas containing two types of atoms for the first time in space. The achievement, outlined in a new study published in Nature, marks another step toward bringing quantum technologies currently available on Earth into space.

The Cold Atom Lab on the International Space Station produces clouds of “ultracold” atoms, the absolute coldest temperature that matter can reach. Through experiments at the lab controlled remotely on Earth, a team of international researchers produced Bose-Einstein condensates—a quantum state of matter made from an atomic gas cooled to temperatures close to absolute zero. Illustration by JPL/NASA

Through experiments controlled remotely on Earth, the researchers produced Bose-Einstein condensates—a quantum state of matter made from an atomic gas cooled to temperatures close to absolute zero. Nicholas Bigelow, the Lee A. DuBridge, Professor of Physics and a professor of optics at the University of Rochester, says these quantum tools can be used to enhance the study of the essence of quantum matter, aid in the navigation between planets, and help solve mysteries of the universe and deepen our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature.

Reaping the benefits of zero gravity

“There are a lot of things in fundamental physics where being in the presence of gravity actually limits how precise a measurement you can make,” says Bigelow, director of the NASA-funded Consortium for Ultracold Atoms in Space. “Removing gravity allows you to make a much longer observation time to get more precision in the measurement, and it allows you to see delicate effects that might be masked by gravity.”

With this new capability, the Cold Atom Lab can now study not only the quantum properties of individual atoms, but also quantum chemistry, which focuses on how different types of atoms interact and combine in a quantum state. Researchers will be able to conduct a wider range of experiments with the Cold Atom Lab and learn more about the nuances of performing them in microgravity. That knowledge will be essential for harnessing the one-of-a-kind facility to develop new space-based quantum technologies.

One mystery the scientists aim to chip away at involves the equivalence principle, which holds that gravity affects all objects the same regardless of their mass. Part of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity—the backbone of modern gravitational physics—the principle doesn’t neatly match up with the laws of quantum physics, which describe behaviors of small objects like atoms. Scientists have already experimented with atom interferometers on Earth to see if the equivalence principle holds true at atomic scales, but they can test it more precisely in space at the Cold Atom Lab.

A route to understanding dark energy—and to better sensors and clocks

Bigelow says the scientists plan to run experiments using a two-atom interferometer and quantum gases to measure gravity with high precision to learn about the nature of dark energy, the mysterious driver behind the universe’s accelerating expansion. What they learn could lead to developing precision sensors for various applications.

“We could make sensors extremely sensitive to small rotations and essentially use these cold atoms in the Bose-Einstein condensate to make gyroscopes,” says Bigelow. “These gyroscopes could give us a fixed reference point in space that could be used for deep space navigation. We’re also developing several things that could lead to better clocks in space, which are crucial to so many things in modern life such as high-speed internet and GPS.”

Source: University of Rochester

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