Superfluid Quantum Gyroscope:
Detection of the Earth's Rotation using a Superfluid SQUID
Dr. Keith Schwab, Condensed Matter Physics, Caltech
Abstract: We have demonstrated a device which is the superfluid analog of the superconducting rf SQUID. Because of the macroscopic quantization of circulation in superfluid 4He, such a device will couple to rotation and can be used as a detector of absolute rotation. This new type of gyroscope technology is demonstrated to have the sensitivity to resolve the Earth's rotation to a level of 0.5% in a measurement time of 1 hour. Possible applications and future developments will be discussed.