OPTAMOT: Optimised Designs for Additively Manufactured Magento Optical Traps
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sussex
Department Name: Sch of Mathematical & Physical Sciences
Abstract
The research team will undertake an iterative design activity, combining our Magneto Optical Trap (MOT) design and optimization experience with that of the Quantum Technology (QT) groups at the Universities of Sussex and Nottingham and with the Design for Additive Manufacture (DfAM) capabilities at Added Scientific Ltd (ASL), a leading organisation in Additive Manufacturing Research.
In support of the above the following specific research activities will be undertaken:
- Dr. Orucevic and Prof. Kruger will undertake the design, testing and implementation of main MOT
structures and auxiliary structures;
- Different operational schemes of MOT will be explored and characterised (e.g., 2D MOT, 2D+ MOT,
pyramidal MOT, etc.);
- The system integration of MOTs with other devices, for example atom chips and printed circuit boards
(PCB), will be tested;
- Prototypes will be investigated both separately and as a part of larger experimental cold-atom setup.
In support of the above the following specific research activities will be undertaken:
- Dr. Orucevic and Prof. Kruger will undertake the design, testing and implementation of main MOT
structures and auxiliary structures;
- Different operational schemes of MOT will be explored and characterised (e.g., 2D MOT, 2D+ MOT,
pyramidal MOT, etc.);
- The system integration of MOTs with other devices, for example atom chips and printed circuit boards
(PCB), will be tested;
- Prototypes will be investigated both separately and as a part of larger experimental cold-atom setup.
Planned Impact
The project's primary impact is in fundamental and applied cold atom research via research undertaken in optimising MOT technical characteristics. This will identify the use of new combinations of magnetic field strengths, laser characteristics and cold atom cloud shapes to optimise MOT design for specific applications. This will add to the fundamental research base, with established routes of scientific interaction being employed to disseminate results.
The project will also deliver significant impact on applied cold atom research nationally and internationally. The production of integrated MOT assemblies via AM will represent a step change in the maturity of the cold atoms research supply chain, with 'off the shelf' MOT designs removing the need for the bespoke MOT builds that typify current cold atom applied research. Making available a key cold atom functionality that can simply be acquired and installed will significantly reduce the resources required to support applied research, enabling a significant increase in the level of cold atom activity being undertaken, whilst particularly facilitating the translation of cold atom technology into the commercial environment, as required to achieve the aspirations of the UK National QT Programme. Established connections to industry within the Departments of Physics and Astronomy and ASL will be leveraged, supporting the next step of Knowledge Transfer to industry. An example of such a connection that will be pursued by the project is based around the strategic partnership with e2v, a major UK electronics. e2v have, over the past three years, developed strong capability in cold atom quantum technology, including new dedicated laboratories and staff at their Chelmsford headquarters. e2v will be engaged as a key
end user, building on their existing collaboration with academic and industrial partners in UK Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology of which both Universities of Sussex and Nottingham are members. e2v's growing interest in cold atom technologies, and associated collaborations, provides a ready-made route for commercialising the MOT innovations that emerge from the project.
The team will seek, in collaboration with our partners, to engage widely with industry stakeholders such as UHV components design and manufacturing companies, and disseminate appropriate information about project progress to developers in the commercial sector, as well as using the team's existing cold atom sensor development collaborations. The team is working closely with our partners in the UK Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology on several projects, including for example the development of back-pack-sized cold-atom gravity sensors that could be revolutionized by the incorporation of new MOT functionalities. Similarly, we have several efforts underway to better support the development of components for quantum sensors. This will provide an excellent means by which to promote the potential of the AM MOT capabilities across UK cold-atom community, and to meet and work with developers and end-users.
The project will also use the Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) to broaden impact. In particular, we will use KTN interactive web portals to target potential beneficiaries. This will be complemented by presentations to key KTN personnel, using their expertise as a route to a wide range of connections. With growing commercial interest, the project will make use of more direct tools of involvement, such as industry events.
The project will also deliver significant impact on applied cold atom research nationally and internationally. The production of integrated MOT assemblies via AM will represent a step change in the maturity of the cold atoms research supply chain, with 'off the shelf' MOT designs removing the need for the bespoke MOT builds that typify current cold atom applied research. Making available a key cold atom functionality that can simply be acquired and installed will significantly reduce the resources required to support applied research, enabling a significant increase in the level of cold atom activity being undertaken, whilst particularly facilitating the translation of cold atom technology into the commercial environment, as required to achieve the aspirations of the UK National QT Programme. Established connections to industry within the Departments of Physics and Astronomy and ASL will be leveraged, supporting the next step of Knowledge Transfer to industry. An example of such a connection that will be pursued by the project is based around the strategic partnership with e2v, a major UK electronics. e2v have, over the past three years, developed strong capability in cold atom quantum technology, including new dedicated laboratories and staff at their Chelmsford headquarters. e2v will be engaged as a key
end user, building on their existing collaboration with academic and industrial partners in UK Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology of which both Universities of Sussex and Nottingham are members. e2v's growing interest in cold atom technologies, and associated collaborations, provides a ready-made route for commercialising the MOT innovations that emerge from the project.
The team will seek, in collaboration with our partners, to engage widely with industry stakeholders such as UHV components design and manufacturing companies, and disseminate appropriate information about project progress to developers in the commercial sector, as well as using the team's existing cold atom sensor development collaborations. The team is working closely with our partners in the UK Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology on several projects, including for example the development of back-pack-sized cold-atom gravity sensors that could be revolutionized by the incorporation of new MOT functionalities. Similarly, we have several efforts underway to better support the development of components for quantum sensors. This will provide an excellent means by which to promote the potential of the AM MOT capabilities across UK cold-atom community, and to meet and work with developers and end-users.
The project will also use the Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) to broaden impact. In particular, we will use KTN interactive web portals to target potential beneficiaries. This will be complemented by presentations to key KTN personnel, using their expertise as a route to a wide range of connections. With growing commercial interest, the project will make use of more direct tools of involvement, such as industry events.
Description | The key findings associated with his grant are: - The confirmation of the ultra-high vacuum (UHV) compatibility of the Al-Si-Mg alloy used in additive manufacturing (AM); - The manufacture of the UHV chamber using AM that is able to sustain the vacuum pressures below 10^{-10} mbar; - The ability of additive manufacturing techniques to reduce the weight of the UHV chamber without compromising its mechanical strength. This is achieved using weight-reduction meshing techniques; - Integrating the fluid cooling channels into the chamber; - Customisation of the structures inside and outside the UHV that allow system integration of other components used in ultra-cold atoms field (mirrors, laser beams...). |
Exploitation Route | The OPTAMOT project showed that Additive Manufacturing techniques can be used to produce the UHV components. That allows for a strong customisation of UHV componentry while reducing its weight. Those are important features that meet the performance requirements of researchers and the developing Quantum Technologies (QT) industry. We expect that both the academic and industrial partners benefit from the techniques developed in this project. As both Sussex and Nottingham partners are the members of the National Quantum Hub for Sensing and Timing, the findings from this project have been already demonstrated to the colleagues (QT Showcase, London 2018) and we will continue to work and use the AM UHV chambers in our future academic collaborations. The traditional vacuum companies showed a great interest in the AM UHV components (Vacuum exhibition, Coventry, UK, 2018). The lead partner (ASL) continue to engage all stakeholders in the applications requiring the UHV componentry. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Transport Other |
Description | OPTAMOT: Optimised Designs for Additively Manufactured Magento Optical Traps |
Amount | £76,604 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/R020442/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2017 |
End | 11/2018 |
Description | OPTAMOT |
Organisation | Added Scientific Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Tested and determined the best alloys to use to achieve UHV with 3d-printed structures. Used conducting 3d-printed structures to create magnetic fields' landscapes for neutral atoms trapping. Contributed to the design of various 3d-printed UHV chambers. Tested the UHV compatibility of various 3d-printed UHV chambers. Determined the mechanical strength of the alloy. |
Collaborator Contribution | ASL - Project management; - Demonstrated AM material capable of meeting structural and outgassing requirements to construct UHV capable chambers; - Designed UHV chambers following input from academic partners; - Market analysis and commercialisation; University of Nottingham - Participated in the design of UHV chambers; - Tested the performances of the UHV chamber; - Measured the outgassing profile as a function of a temperature; |
Impact | - Publication in peer review journal; - Exhibition in a showcase; This is multidisciplinary collaboration, the lead partner, Added Scientific Ltd., has an engineering background while the two academic partners (the University of Sussex and University of Nottingham) are in the area of physics. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | OPTAMOT |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Tested and determined the best alloys to use to achieve UHV with 3d-printed structures. Used conducting 3d-printed structures to create magnetic fields' landscapes for neutral atoms trapping. Contributed to the design of various 3d-printed UHV chambers. Tested the UHV compatibility of various 3d-printed UHV chambers. Determined the mechanical strength of the alloy. |
Collaborator Contribution | ASL - Project management; - Demonstrated AM material capable of meeting structural and outgassing requirements to construct UHV capable chambers; - Designed UHV chambers following input from academic partners; - Market analysis and commercialisation; University of Nottingham - Participated in the design of UHV chambers; - Tested the performances of the UHV chamber; - Measured the outgassing profile as a function of a temperature; |
Impact | - Publication in peer review journal; - Exhibition in a showcase; This is multidisciplinary collaboration, the lead partner, Added Scientific Ltd., has an engineering background while the two academic partners (the University of Sussex and University of Nottingham) are in the area of physics. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Title | Cylinder MOT |
Description | The 3d-printed structure for Magneto-Optical trapping allowed to decrease the electrical power consumption for the creation of the magnetic fields from a typical 50 W (external Anti-Helmholtz coils) to below 10 mW of electrical power. |
Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Impact | Low powered devices for Magneto-Optical traps. |
Title | UHV chambers |
Description | 3d-printed UHV chamber, able to sustain the vacuum below 1e-10 mbar. |
Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Impact | A possibility of the creation of the bespoke components for the supply chain in the area of quantum technologies. |
Description | Quantum Technologies Showcase - London |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Following on from the three previous national quantum technologies showcase events, the 2018 event demonstrated the technological progress that arose from the national research programme, its relevance to commercial sectors and the collaborative nature of the programme involving academia, industry and government partners. The 2018 Showcase has been organised by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in collaboration with Innovate UK, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the National Network of Quantum Technology Hubs and the other National Programme Partners. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://uknqt.epsrc.ac.uk/files/uk-national-quantum-technologies-showcase-9-november-2018/ |