“Quantum Measurement Center” of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “VNIIFTRI” and Its Purpose

S. I. Donchenko, V. F. Fateev

Transactions of IAA RAS, issue 74, 16–29 (2025)

DOI: 10.32876/ApplAstron.74.16-29

Keywords: standards of frequency, time, length; highly stable standards of frequency and time, quantum atomic gravimeters; quantum optical gravimeters and gradiometers; cryogenic gravimeters, quantum level

Abstract

The article examines the purpose and primary objectives of the “Quantum Measurement Center” (hereinafter referred to as the Center), established at the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “VNIIFTRI” in accordance with the instruction of the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Government — Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation D. V. Manturov, dated May 6, 2024. The Center aims to elevate the tactical and technical characteristics of the national time scale UTC (SU), develop essential support tools for GLONASS, and create interference-resistant autonomous navigation systems (ANS) based on measurements of the Earth's gravity and magnetic fields (EGF and EMF). The main goals of establishing the Center include: developing a unified standard for frequency, time, length and gravimetry; creating advanced, highly stable stationary and mobile standards for frequency and time; development of quantum navigation sensors of EGF and EMF parameters to support the creation of geophysical ANS. The influence of the Earth's gravity field on frequency, time and length standards is also considered. It is highlighted that, in the development of secondary standards, precise knowledge of the coordinates and velocity of the secondary standard installation point is necessary. The possibility of creating next-generation quantum gravimetric standards is discussed. In the context of developing highly stable frequency and time standards (FTS), the main challenge is identified as the creation of nuclear FTS and methods for frequency comparison. The article also addresses the challenges involved in developing high-precision quantum sensors for measuring EGF and EMF parameters. It emphasizes that solutions rely on advancements in physics, such as interferometry with de Broglie waves, interferometric gravitational wave antennas, and ultra-stable FTS. Furthermore, the development of quantum atomic gravimeters of the “fountain” type and gravimeters based on Bose-Einstein condensates employing entangled cold atom states are analyzed. The possibilities for creating quantum optical sensors for EGF measurement are also explored, including ground-based gravimeters and space-based single-satellite and multi-satellite (cluster) gravitational meters. The capabilities of cryogenic gravimeters are examined, along with small-sized quantum magnetometers that could serve as the basis for electromagnetic field (EMF) navigation systems (SANs). Finally, prospects for establishing quantum standards based on highly stable quantum FTS, as well as integrating these into the country’s geodetic network (“Quantum Footstock”), are presented.

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