Atom Trap Trace Analysis Lab Update
The University of Adelaide鈥檚 Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA) facility is fully operational, processing samples and open to new collaborations!
The ATTA team is now welcoming research and commercial partnerships across government, industry, and academia.
This is the first ATTA facility in the Southern Hemisphere. It allows scientists to measure rare noble gas isotopes like krypton-81 and 85 at parts per trillion, unlocking a completely new way to date, trace, and manage groundwater.
The lab combines quantum physics, lasers, and environmental science, enabling extremely precise measurements that were previously impossible. Their first commercial water samples, purified at CSIRO鈥檚 Noble Gas Lab, are now being analysed. Partnering with CSIRO positions Australia as a global leader in noble gas analysis for environmental applications.
With around 30% of Australia's water supply coming from groundwater, this capability is a game-changer for:
- Sustainable water management
- Climate change resilience
- Supporting agriculture, mining, and urban development
Built by the Precision Measurement Group (PMG) at the University of Adelaide and led by Dr Rohan Glover, with Prof Andre Luiten (Chief Investigator), the facility uses cutting-edge laser cooling and trapping techniques to isolate individual atoms for measurement, a feat of quantum engineering! Congratulations to all the team including Dr Ivan Herrera Benzaquen, Dr Thomas Chambers and Helena Wescombe-Down (Project Manager).