A Look Back at the Cold Atom Interferometry Training at the Institut d’Optique

Last December 19th, the Institut d’Optique in Palaiseau hosted a hands-on 360 CARLA Training activity dedicated to cold atom interferometry. Around 20 first-year Master’s students took part in the event, led by Vincent Ménoret, Head of R&D for inertial sensors at Exail.

The training offered students a deep dive into the principles behind gravity field measurement using cold atoms, while also highlighting the crucial role photonics plays in cold atom gravimeter systems. One of the highlights of the day: participants had the unique opportunity to remotely operate a real gravimeter and acquire live interferometric data.

The day concluded with a discussion on career opportunities in the growing field of quantum technologies—an inspiring end to a session that successfully bridged advanced physics and real-world applications.