£2m for UK quantum gravity sensor startup
Delta g in the UK has raised £2m (€2.3m) for its underground imaging system that uses quantum gravity sensing to measure gravity gradients.
The company is a spinout of the University of Birmingham and is developing hardware and technology for gravity sensing using atom interferometry.
The gravity gradiometer is used for scanning beneath the earth’s surface for utility mapping, smart cities, smart mining, and building information modelling (BIM). The funding will be used to develop a commercial demonstrator of the existing research system, perform trials with industrial end users, and build a robust roadmap towards manufacturing and commercialisation.
The design is based around an hourglass configuration cold atom gravity gradiometer with two clouds of atoms.Two counter-oriented single-beam magneto-optical traps (MOTs) allow passage of common Raman beams to perform interferometry.
- £75m for UK quantum computer, sensor prototypes
- Compact quantum sensing technology promises GPS-free navigation
This design suppresses the effects of micro-seismic and laser noise, thermal and magnetic field variations, and instrument tilt. As a result, the instrument provides 0.5m spatial resolution across an 8.5-metre-long line, detecting a 2-metre tunnel with a signal-to-noise ratio of 8. The removal of vibrational noise enables improvements in instrument performance to directly translate into reduced measurement time in mapping.
The Quantum Exponential Group is investing £300,000 alongside Science Creates Ventures in a £1.5m round, with additional investment from Newable Ventures, Bristol Private Equity Club and angel investors. This is Quantum Exponential’s seventh portfolio company.
- Autonomous machine learning boost for quantum sensors
- World’s largest Schrödinger’s Cat brings quantum into the world
The technology will contribute to effective monitoring of critical national infrastructure and ground movement from climate change – both in the UK and internationally. The company also has a £500,000 grant from Innovate UK project grant via the ISCF Commercialising Quantum Technologies: feasibility studies round 3.
The quantum gravity gradiometer has the potential to transform underground mapping for several industries such as utility mapping for smart cities and smart mining as it can be used in real-time monitoring and is a direct measurement.
“Delta g’s use of quantum technology to measure gravity gradients has the potential to revolutionise industries such as construction and infrastructure and significantly improve mapping of what happens underground,” said Steve Metcalfe, CEO of Quantum Exponential.
“We are proud to support Delta g in its mission to develop a commercial demonstrator of the existing research system and to develop a gravity gradiometer. We are particularly pleased to note that Delta g’s technology has also received a circa. £500k Innovate UK project grant, highlighting its importance to the UK government’s efforts to advance the commercialisation of quantum technologies.
“At Quantum Exponential, we are committed to investing in the most promising early-stage global quantum technology companies, and Delta g is an excellent addition to our portfolio. We look forward to working closely with the team at Delta g and supporting them as they continue to develop its technology. This investment brings our portfolio to seven companies to date and further cements our position as a leader in the quantum technology investment sector. We remain focused on identifying new opportunities in this rapidly evolving industry and delivering value to our investors.”
www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04315-3; www.bham.ac.uk
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
