ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO10529
Open Date: 23/09/2020
Closing Date: 06/11/2020 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 20.154.20
Prog. Ref.: NAVISP Phase 2 E1
Budget Ref.: E/0365-40 – NAVISP Phase 2 E1
Special Prov.: BE+DK+DE+CH+GB+AT+NL+NO+FI+CZ+RO+FR+IT+GR+HU+SE
Tender Type: C
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Optical Communication / Optical Comm ¿ BB / Laser sources, modulators
Technology Domains: Optoelectronics / Laser Technologies / Non-Linear Optics
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Navigation
Department: Strategy and Programme Department
Division: NAVISP Programme Office
Contract Officer: Smoczarski, Caroline
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 23/09/2020
Update Reason: Tender issue

Quantum metrology, in which the quantum properties of light and matter are used to measure physical quantities, shows great potential to enhance both the precision and security of existing PNT techniques. For example, ranging and/or clock synchronisation can be implemented using pairs of entangled single photons, leading to an improvement in timing stability of around an order of magnitude inoptical-fibre-based lab demonstrations. Quantum metrology techniques also show a variety of potential security benefits, including robustness to jamming, spoofing and/or eavesdropping, both in theory and early experimental tests. The aim of this project is to design and build a prototype free space quantum metrology system for PNT, for enhanced precision and/or security, which could later be deployed in a mobile context or in space.