Southampton university spin-out trials its quantum tech with Royal Navy

Aquark Technologies, the quantum tech spin-out from Southampton University, said it was continuing to showcase the 'real-life applications' of its technology after a trial on a Royal Navy (RN) vessel.

The trial of the firm's ‘cold atom’ technology, for covert monitoring at sea, on the HMS Pursuer was carried out by the firm and the Office of the Chief of Technology Officer (OCTO) for the RN.

Aquark has developed a cold atom clock, which is a tool to precisely measure time by cooling atoms to near absolute zero.

The firm's clock uses a unique laser cooling method known as a super molasses, which does not require an applied magnetic field to trap atoms, making it more portable and robust as well as being easier to produce commercially.

The company reported that it had successfully captured cold atoms continuously throughout every test and at all locations on the ship.

Commander Matthew Steele, future technology lead for OCTO, said: "Quantum technologies being developed in the UK will offer an alternative Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capability necessary to operate effectively in GPS-denied and degraded environments.

"Over the next 3 years, the RN seeks to accelerate the development of quantum technologies – such as AQUARK’s – through funding and sea trials, to secure the RN an opportunity to invest in a non-GPS-based PNT capability and to maintain its global operating advantage."

Aquark Technologies co-founder and CEO Andrei Dragomir added: "With this latest trial of our technology at sea with the Royal Navy, we are continuing to show the real-life applications of our technology after our successful flight of the first cold atom device on a drone.

"The completion of this trial marks an encouraging milestone for the future of quantum technologies."

In May this year, start-up Aquark secured a £3.4m contract from the government-owned Innovate UK to develop a high-performance cold atom clock.