More accurate navigation through quantum technologies.

Satellites already guarantee the reliable functioning of our navigation systems. Positioning services are of enormous importance in areas such as transport, industry, earth observation, and agriculture.

However, we want to increase the accuracy of these services even further because, in the future, satellites will also guide autonomous vehicles. The positioning information for this not only has to be reliably available worldwide, but also has to offer particularly high spatial accuracy. Accordingly, we are developing a new generation of satellite clocks. These clocks constantly self-synchronize, preventing time differences from leading to dangerous misinformation. Even a deviation of one nanosecond, one billionth of a second, would lead to a distance error of 30 centimeters on Earth.

We are therefore developing iodine laser clocks based on the principles of quantum mechanics. These will work many times more accurately than previous systems, thus ensuring safe mobility on earth.

(Photo: DLR, ESA, NASA)