From left to right: Edward Wilson (Technical Manager at TSL), Dr Laurence Coles (Metamorphic AM), Dr Manolis Papastavrou (Metamorphic AM) and Alexandra Bratu (Project Coordinator at TSL).
We are thrilled to announce that Metamorphic AM’s ultra-high vacuum chamber, from our QTEAM project was highly commended at this year’s TCT Awards! This is a recognition of Metamorphic AM’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of additive manufacturing through design, delivering innovative solutions to current engineering challenges in a wide range of technology sectors.
Edward Wilson, our Technical Manager, and Alexandra Bratu, our Project Coordinator, supported Metamorphic AM’s Dr Laurence Coles and Dr Manolis Papastavrou at the award ceremony.
Project QTEAM brought together expertise from Metamorphic AM, University of Nottingham, and Torr Scientific Ltd to build on the quantum gravimeter device RAL Space was developing.
QTEAM unlocks the potential of AM in quantum technology, demonstrating its suitability for intricate, high-performance components that are vital for the next generation of quantum devices. This is achieved via an AM ultra-high vacuum chamber that sits at the heart of a space‑based gravimeter. Current lab‑based quantum systems are bulky and power-intensive, which poses significant challenges to their practical deployment in the field. Our approach leverages AM to create compact, lightweight and power-efficient quantum devices, which hold immense potential for applications in areas such as precision navigation and timing, gravitational field sensing etc. that are crucial to aerospace and defence.
The project focused on three key areas of innovation:
- The development of new design methods for additively manufactured ultra-high vacuum (UHV) systems to enable a new “ultra-portable” phase of quantum technologies for space applications
- The development of novel and highly efficient active and passive pumping methods → Torr Scientific deliverables. Keep an eye out for exciting news. More information about new capabilities and products to follow shortly.
- The optimisation of magneto-optical trapping via non-standard 4D magnetic field distributions (varying non-separably in time and spatial coordinates)
A huge thank you to our fantastic collaborative team!
Torr Scientific is excited to continue this journey, contributing to the adoption of AM, making a significant impact with our cutting-edge design methods and placing the UK at the forefront of global ultra-portable Quantum devices.
The photos were taken by Katja Ogrin, the official photographer for the event.
