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IUCAA’s lab developing optical atomic clock to explore fundamentals of science

At the PQM lab, a new method for sensing vibrations using optical fibre has also been developed

The PQM lab at IUCAA; (right) Prof Subhadeep De at the lab. (Express Photos)

The Precision and Quantum Measurement Laboratory (PQM lab) at Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics is developing a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to explore the fundamentals of science using very accurate optical atomic clocks.

“Once the clock is ready, it will be able to detect incredibly tiny changes in energy, which can reveal things like changes in fundamental physical constants (if any), change of gravity over a tiny height, possible gravitational waves and others,” Prof Subhadeep De, Principal Investigator, PQM lab, said.

For the purpose, the lab is creating high-precision instruments using quantum science for extremely accurate measurements. The lab’s research interests involve developing quantum phenomena-based technologies for metrology-grade measurements and accurate sensing.

“The heart of the experimental setup is a trapped ytterbium-ion-based quantum clock,” Prof De said. The clock works by using a rare atomic process that happens at a light wavelength of 467 nanometers. To power the clock the lab is building an ultra-stable laser with an extremely narrow frequency line width, the scientist explained.

Prof De also noted that the optical fiber-based distributed acoustic sensing (OF-DAS) technology in the last decade has emerged as a powerful tool for a wide range of applications. It could be early warnings of natural calamity by continuous monitoring of the seismic noise and differentiating any abnormality originating from earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, structural health monitoring of cracks build-up in flyovers, bridges, railway tracks, and disaster control by timely detection of cracks.

At the PQM lab, a new method for sensing vibrations using optical fibre has also been developed. It uses a very stable laser at 1,550 nm to detect and locate acoustic or seismic signals more accurately. The system tracks tiny changes in the laser’s frequency to find where and when vibrations happen, and how strong they are. The team is now working to make the system transportable with its potential application in Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave (LIGO-India)

LIGO-India event to commemorate International Year of Quantum 2025

Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave (LIGO) detectors are among the most precise instruments in the world and quantum technologies are key to improving their sensitivity. LIGO-India, an ongoing mega science project dedicated to detect gravitational waves, is actively exploring pathways to enable quantum science and technology in improving the performance of its detector. Innovative solutions such as quantum squeezing and quantum sensors have been developed to detect the elusive gravitational waves.

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On Tuesday, an event was organised by LIGO-India Education and Public Outreach (LI-EPO) to showcase the current developments in quantum physics particularly to highlight its applications in gravitational wave science. Experts from various domains in quantum sciences and technologies in India came together to discuss the future of measurements, communications, and gravitational waves at IUCAA in Pune. Prof R Srianand, Director of IUCAA, inaugurated the event.

“As we push the frontiers of gravitational -wave astronomy, the LIGO detectors have now entered the quantum regime, marking a major forward in precision measurement,” Dr Manasadevi P T, scientist at IUCAA, said. “This progress not only enhances our sensitivity to probe the universe using gravitational waves but also contributes meaningfully to the field of quantum sensing and metrology,” she said.

Prof Debarati Chatterjee, chair of LIGO-INDIA Education and Public Outreach at IUCAA, said the day-long event was specifically held as 2025 worldwide is being celebrated as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. “It marks 100 years since the foundational developments in quantum mechanics and honours the groundbreaking work of scientists like Heisenberg, Schrödinger, Bohr, Einstein, and Bose, whose contributions shaped our understanding of the quantum world,” Prof Chatterjee said.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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