Quantum physics can sound like something ripped from the pages of a sci-fi novel. Think particles existing in two places at once and mysteriously entwined in ways that everyday logic cannot untangle. Yet, across the UK, brilliant researchers and bold businesses are harnessing the power of this mind-blowing science.
Thanks to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which channels public money into pioneering projects, quantum is leaping from physics theory to practical applications. These innovations are set to give everything from navigation to healthcare a quantum boost, and even help outsmart counterfeiters, making fake goods a thing of the past.
Ready for science fiction to become your daily reality? Discover how UKRI-backed quantum breakthroughs are making their way out of the lab and into the real world…
Reducing reliance on GPS
From directions to deliveries, most of us rely on Global Positioning System (GPS) without giving it a second thought. But, as you’ve probably discovered when your satnav stalls, GPS signals can be unavailable in remote areas. Concerningly, they can also be jammed or spoofed.
Aquark Technologies is working to solve that problem with the AQlock, the UK’s first industrially designed atomic clock. It uses cold atom technology, where atoms are cooled to temperatures close to absolute zero, to achieve super-precise timekeeping without having to constantly check in with GPS satellites.
The technology has already been put through its paces at sea onboard a Royal Navy ship in the Solent, showcasing how it could help protect important transport links.
Protecting against fake goods
Counterfeit goods aren’t just a nuisance. They drain the global economy of hundreds of billions of pounds every year. And the problem goes far beyond fake designer handbags. When bogus medicines slip into the supply chain, people’s lives can be put at serious risk.
Enter Quantum Base, a trailblazing spin-out from Lancaster University. They’ve engineered a ground-breaking security solution: the Q-ID tag which uses atomic-level quantum effects to create unclonable identifiers.
These quantum-secure tags can be authenticated by smartphone and are virtually impossible to replicate or clone. Already, over one billion products worldwide, from life-saving medicines to luxury goods, have been safeguarded using Quantum Base’s patented technology.
On-the-go brain scans
The days of patients lying motionless in a giant scanner could soon be gone. Thanks to researchers at University of Nottingham, they can now don a quantum-powered brain-scanning helmet and get images while on the move.
Using optically pumped magnetometers, the technology senses tiny magnetic fields of brain activity with astonishing precision. Walk, stand or even play, the brain is still under observation.
This is a game changer for clinical research. Fidgety children can be scanned comfortably, while studying patients as they move could unlock fresh insights into neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease.
Cerca Magnetics, a spin-out of the research, is now rolling out the technology to neuroscience centres worldwide.
Quantum sensors beneath the streets of London
How can you navigate your way through tunnels when you cannot get a GPS signal underground? Quantum physics may hold the answer.
A team at Imperial College London is developing a navigation system that uses clouds of atoms cooled to just above absolute zero. When these atoms are released in a kind of controlled freefall, their quantum wave-like behaviour creates interference patterns that act as an incredibly precise measuring tool. This allows the system to track movement without having to rely on any external signals.
This sensor technology could enable reliable navigation in tunnels, as well as helping monitor the health of transport infrastructure, and increasing the capacity of rail networks. It’s already been tested on the London Underground.
Forecasting the weather… in space
It may not be as obvious as a getting caught in a downpour, but the weather in space can impact your life, too. Powerful magnetic storms triggered by the sun can disturb the Earth’s magnetic field, causing disruption to power grids, damage to satellites and communications blackouts.
Researchers at the University of Strathclyde and RAL Space have set up five quantum magnetometers across the UK. These instruments are remarkably sensitive to shifts in the Earth’s magnetic field. Think of them as weathervanes for cosmic chaos.
Their data helps the British Geological Survey map how magnetic storms affect different parts of the country, providing important intel to government and industry for preparing and responding to extreme space weather.
Quantum: what’s next?
It’s been more than 100 years since quantum mechanics first shook up our understanding of the Universe. This science explained the way very small particles, such as atoms, behaved. Without it, we wouldn’t have essentials like computer chips, lasers and smartphones.
But the story isn’t over yet. UKRI is supporting the next wave of quantum technology set to revolutionise healthcare, safeguard our planet, boost cybersecurity, and transform business and communication. The quantum leap is just beginning.