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The aim in an international research project called AQuRA (Advanced Quantum Clock for Real-World Application) is to build an optical atomic clock that is based on neutral atoms and is both accurate and robust within 3.5 years. With this clock, using complicated laboratory setups or relying on atomic clock specialists will be a thing of the past for everyday practical applications, such as when geodata needs to be collected to measure sea level rise due to global warming. The EU is providing 7.5 million euros in funding for the project. Eight further partners from metrology institutes, universities and industry in six countries are also participating in the project in addition to PTB. The University of Amsterdam is tasked with coordination.

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QI Digital

In an increasingly digitalized world, quality assurance must also be redefined because it is the foundation of the digital and green transformation of industry. Within the scope of the QI Digital Initiative, which was established by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (BMWK), core stakeholders of Germany’s quality infrastructure (QI) have joined interested parties from industry and research to find new solutions for modern quality assurance. At the QI Digital Forum in October, the challenges and potential of quality assurance were discussed, and possible solutions were presented together with QI Digital’s pilot projects. An advisory board – to which experts from companies and associations, representatives of research establishments and government authorities, and QI stakeholders belong – was elected beforehand.

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Siegel des BIPM

Megacoole Nachricht für die Welt der Metrologie: Es gibt neue Einheiten-Vorsätze (Präfixe) für extrem große und extrem kleine Zahlenangaben: Ronna und Quetta sowie ronto und quecto. Die Bekanntheit von Mega (eine Million) oder milli (ein Tausendstel) werden sie sicherlich nicht so schnell erreichen. Aber die Erweiterung war beispielsweise deshalb notwendig, weil durch die Digitalisierung die weltweiten Datenmengen exponentiell wachsen. Hier werden schon jetzt die Präfixe am oberen Ende der bestehenden Skala verwendet. Präfixe für sehr kleine Zahlen sind  für die Quantenwissenschaft und die Teilchenphysik sehr nützlich, betont die Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), die als nationales Metrologieinstitut die oberste Instanz in Deutschland für alle Fragen des richtigen und zuverlässigen Messens ist.

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Optische Atomuhr mit hochgeladenen Ionen

Optical atomic clocks are the most accurate measuring instruments ever built and are becoming key tools for basic and applied research, for example to test the constancy of natural constants or for height measurements in geodesy. Now, researchers at the QUEST Institute at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK) and the TU Braunschweig and in the scope of the QuantumFrontiers Cluster of Excellence, have realised for the first time an optical atomic clock based on highly charged ions. This type of ion lends itself to such an application because it has extraordinary atomic properties and low sensitivity to external electromagnetic fields. The researchers report on their results in the current issue of Nature.

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Plakat zum Tag der Ausbildung 2022

Am 3. September zwischen 10 Uhr und 16 Uhr findet auf dem Campus der PTB in Braunschweig der Tag der Ausbildung statt. Wir informieren über unsere vielfältigen Ausbildungs- und Studienangebote aus dem technischen und handwerklichen Bereich. Unsere Ausbilder/-innen und Auszubildenden beantworten alle Fragen und rund um die Berufsbilder, die Voraussetzungen, den Bewerbungsprozess und geben Einblicke in die einzelnen Ausbildungsberufe am Puls der Spitzenforschung.

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Seit 1. Juni 2022 arbeiten das BRICS, ein Forschungszentrum der TU Braunschweig, und die Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Braunschweig auf einem weiteren Gebiet offiziell zusammen. Bei der jetzt vertraglich vereinbarten Kooperation steht die Standardisierung im biomedizinischen Bereich im Mittelpunkt: Erforscht werden sollen weltweit geltende, objektive Maßstäbe für quantitative Messungen in der Biomedizin, also Einheiten, Grenzwerte und Messmethoden, die möglichst auf das internationale Einheitensystem SI rückgeführt werden können. Wichtig ist das zum Beispiel bei der Verabreichung von Medikamenten wie bei der Insulintherapie und bei der Cholesterin-Diagnose.

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The nationwide joint project titled QSolid intends to develop a collaboration platform for a quantum computer based on superconducting circuits within the next five years. It is also planned that a demonstrator system will be set up within this context. For this project, PTB’s work will include developing particularly low-noise, next-generation superconducting and methods to improve the control over superconducting qubits.. Building on this, calibration services are to be created that can be utilized by industry partners at PTB’s Quantum Technology Competence Center. A total of 25 partners are involved in the QSolid project which is being coordinated by Forschungszentrum Jülich. The project budget amounts to 76.3 million euros; 89.8 % of the funding is being provided by the BMBF. (Contact: Lukas Grünhaupt, +49 531 592-9453, Opens local program for sending emaillukas.gruenhaupt(at)ptb.de)

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The former President of PTB, Prof. Dr. Joachim Ullrich, passed the baton to Prof. Dr. Cornelia Denz on 1 May 2022. She is the first female president in PTB’s more than 135-year history. Before taking on this post, Cornelia Denz headed the Institute of Applied Physics at the Westfälische Wilhelms- Universität Münster for seven years. Because she has been a member of the “Kuratorium” (Advisory Board) for many years, she is already very familiar with PTB. After leading PTB for ten years, Joachim Ullrich will take up a new position as the president of the German Physical Society (DPG).

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Due to their higher reference frequency, optical clocks enable measurements that are even more accurate than those of conventional atomic clocks. Until now, however, optical clocks could only be operated by experts in special laboratories. Within the scope of Opticlock, an industry-led pilot project for quantum technologies, a demonstrator of an optical clock has been built. This demonstrator makes the advantages of modern quantum technologies available to end-users in the form of a user- friendly device.

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