NIST Researchers Looking at Quantum Physics as Answer to Some Communications Needs

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology are looking at whether very-low-frequency (VLF) digitally modulated magnetic signals and quantum sensors might allow communications and mapping in places where GPS and ordinary cellphones and radios don’t work reliably or at all, including urban canyons, underwater and underground. “The technology may help mariners, soldiers and surveyors, among others. GPS signals don’t penetrate very deeply or at all in water, soil or building walls, and therefore, can’t be used by submarines or in underground activities such as surveying mines,” said a NIST blog post. “GPS also may not work well indoors or even outdoors among city skyscrapers. For soldiers, radio signals may be blocked in environments cluttered by rubble or many interfering electromagnetic devices during military or disaster recovery missions.” VLF already is used for communications between submarines, NIST said, but there’s not enough data-carrying capacity for audio or video, only one-way texts. The big issues raised by VLF are poor receiver sensitivity and the extremely limited bandwidth of both transmitters and receivers, said NIST project leader Dave Howe. “The best magnetic field sensitivity is obtained using quantum sensors,” Howe said. "The increased sensitivity leads in principle to longer communications range. The quantum approach also offers the possibility to get high bandwidth communications like a cellphone has.”