The Economy

In the new joint project “ATIQ – Quantencomputer mit gespeicherten Ionen für Anwendungen” (quantum computers with stored ions for applications), 25 partners are aiming to develop the first generation of reliable and user-friendly quantum computer demonstrators with around-the-clock availability on the basis of ion trap technology within 30 months. To achieve this, the leading ion trap research groups at the universities of Hannover/Braunschweig, Siegen and Mainz have joined forces with research institutes (including PTB) and partners from industry. The project is being funded with 37.4 million euros by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. (Contact: Christian Ospelkaus, +49 531 592-4740, christian.ospelkaus(at)ptb.de)

An additional new European Metrology Network (EMN), also under the umbrella of EURAMET, took up work at the beginning of October 2021. Here, 14 metrology organizations which are currently members are working on utilizing the full potential of advanced manufacturing with the aid of improved measuring technologies. (Contact: Harald Bosse, +49 531 592-5010, harald.bosse(at)ptb.de)

The new European Metrology Network (EMN) for Radiation Protection was launched on 16 September 2021. The expertise of 16 metrology institutes, two national radiation protection institutes and one European radiation protection organization which are now members is gathered here under the umbrella of EURAMET.

(Contact: Annette Röttger, +49 531 592-6010, annette.roettger(at)ptb.de)

At many workplaces, the prevailing sound exposure is caused by sound in the high-frequency audible range or even by ultrasound. It has to be possible to detect noise exposure with a small measurement uncertainty even in this frequency range. PTB’s concept of a mobile high-frequency personal sound exposure meter is suited to measuring a large number of quantities that are typical of the audible range and can now also be measured in the ultrasound range as noise an individual person is exposed to. This novel concept thus contributes to improved occupational safety. (Technology Offer 7095)

An innovative concept for improving the sensitivity of a quantum sensor for velocity measurement has made versatile applications in the aerospace industry possible. The new procedure allows high velocities to be recorded quickly with high accuracy and in a large dynamic range. For this purpose, a conventional Doppler measurement is complemented by an additional element of a rubidium cell, and the phase of the laser light is then analyzed. In this way, the resolution of velocity measurements used in conventional applications such as lidar or radar can be improved by several orders of magnitude. This new technology is currently being tested at laboratory scale and can easily be integrated into miniaturized modules. (Technology Offer 528)

Magnetic scales are used in various technological areas to measure positions and angles. PTB’s invention allows magnetic scales for precision positioning to be manufactured fast and at low cost. This novel procedure mainly consists in patterning the magnetic film defining the scale by means of a laser. Structure sizes in the micrometer range and sharp transitions between the magnetic domains allow high spatial resolution rates for magnetic measuring systems to be attained with low measurement uncertainties. This ensures a clear reduction of the positioning uncertainty and allows the manufacturing of scales that are suited to being used in precision positioning and measurement systems. The manufacturing procedure is lowcost and suited to high-volume manufacturing. (Technology Offer 491)

The measurement responses of optical measuring devices to surface topography can be described by the instrument transfer function (ITF). At PTB, a novel material measure has been developed to characterize two-dimensional instrument transfer functions (2D-ITF) of optical measuring instruments. This material measure is flexible and easy to use. Moreover, it shows high reproducibility and robustness.

Nanoparticles can be used, for example, to deliver vaccines or drugs deep into the human body to precisely where they are needed. To determine the dose, it is essential to acquire the most accurate information possible on the concentration of these minute particles. A very accurate and fast analytical system measures particle sizes stretching from nanoparticles of approx. 40 nm to microparticles of approx. 10 μm and can be used in applications ranging from drug targeting to coronavirus vaccine research.

A classical measurement system for measuring magnetic field distributions, which vary spatially on the nanometer scale, was calibrated by means of an atomic quantum sensor for the first time. This new calibration procedure does not depend on simplifying model assumptions and allows more reliable measurements of magnetic field distributions with high spatial resolution.