Partners sought for photon precision measurement at Bristol University

Partnership Opportunity

Researchers at the University of Bristol are looking for partnership to enhance and develop their research on precision measurement using photons of light. 

According to the research paper, the waves of laser light can be used to measure lengths by acting like markings on a ruler. The findings show that using a group of four photons enhances measurement precisions by four times, as the set behaves as if it had a shorter wavelength than a single photon.  This method could have applications in etching finer circuits onto computer chips.

“I haven't started actively seeking investment beyond government funding agencies, but it is something that I am keen to pursue,” said Dr Jeremy O’Brien, the British member of the otherwise Japanese team from Bristol’s departments of physics and electrical engineering. “The results presented in this paper are very much a first proof-of-principal and much R&D will need to be done before new products can be realised - that is something that I am now actively pursuing. A partner would therefore need to come on board with a long-term strategic vision.”

“I am really looking at R&D investment,” added Dr. O’Brien, “We haven't patented the result in the Science paper, but the next phase will be to develop technologically relevant implementations which will be patentable.”

The research team includes Tomohisa Nagata, Ryo Okamoto, Jeremy L. O'Brien, Keiji Sasaki, and Shigeki Takeuch at the University of Bristol.