Name
Development of a Field-Deployable Laser System for Canada’s First Portable Quantum Gravimeter
Date & Time
Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Description
We present progress toward the development of Canada’s first portable quantum gravimeter at the University of New Brunswick, which is designed to detect time-variable gravity anomalies such as solid-earth tides and ocean loading phenomena. This work focuses on the implementation of a field-deployable laser system for cooling and manipulating a gas of rubidium-87 atoms at the heart of the gravimeter. The laser system involves three space-qualified fiber lasers: a Reference laser locked to an electronic transition in 87Rb, and two Follower lasers locked to the Reference using high-bandwidth optical phase-locked loops. The two Followers are amplified to high power and injected into the sensor head to facilitate gravity measurements. Similar all-fibered designs have demonstrated resilience against external thermal and vibrational noise, helping to ensure reliable operation in the field. Our laser system bridges the gap between cold-atom physics and practical geophysical applications, providing a stable foundation for high-sensitivity gravitational mapping.
Location Name
McCain 2017
Full Address
Dalhousie University
Halifax NS
Canada
Halifax NS
Canada
Session Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract ID
92
Speaker Organization
University of New Brunswick
Session Name
G1
Co-authors
Timothy Hunt, Cristian Ramirez-Rodriguez, Brynle Barrett
Presenting Author
Owen Doty, University of New Brunswick