University of Rochester team develops squeezed phonon laser
Updated
Updated · SciTechDaily · May 4
University of Rochester team develops squeezed phonon laser
4 articles · Updated · SciTechDaily · May 4
Working with Rochester Institute of Technology, the researchers reported in Nature Communications that light-driven squeezing cuts thermal noise in nanoscale vibrations.
The advance could measure acceleration, gravity and other forces more precisely than photon-laser or radio-frequency methods, with potential uses in navigation and quantum-physics research.
It builds on a 2019 phonon laser using optically levitated phonons in vacuum, aiming toward practical sensors such as quantum compasses that could offer satellite-free, unjammable navigation.
Can a new laser that 'squeezes' vibrations finally create an unjammable GPS, securing navigation for drones and autonomous vehicles?
This new phonon laser offers unprecedented precision. Could it be the key to finally uniting the theories of gravity and quantum mechanics?
University of Rochester and RIT Develop Low-Noise Squeezed Phonon Laser for Next-Gen Quantum Technologies
Overview
In 2026, researchers from the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology developed a groundbreaking squeezed phonon laser by using two-mode squeezing to couple orthogonal vibration modes of levitated nanoparticles. This innovation overcomes the thermal noise limitations of earlier phonon lasers, producing a highly coherent, intense, and low-noise source of mechanical vibrations. The technology enables ultra-precise quantum sensing, including satellite-free, unjammable navigation systems, and the generation of coherent surface acoustic waves that facilitate advanced quantum hybrid systems. While challenges remain in materials and device integration, ongoing research and expected cost reductions promise broad adoption across defense, medical imaging, and quantum technologies in the coming decade.