Exail Technologies, a high-tech industrial group specializing in cutting-edge robotics, maritime systems, navigation, aerospace and photonics technologies, is delivering three absolute quantum gravimeters (AQGs) to the Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands (INVOLCAN) for real-time monitoring of volcanic hazards on Tenerife, Spain. The shipment represents a milestone for field-ready quantum sensing, bringing gravimetry based on atomic interferometry into one of Europe’s most closely studied volcanic regions.

The island of Tenerife is  home to Teide, Europe’s highest volcano, which raises 3,715 metres above sea level. The Canary Islands face direct volcanic risk affecting roughly two million residents, as well as large numbers of visitors who travel to the archipelago each year. Since 2016, Tenerife has experienced a steady increase in signs of volcanic change beneath the surface, including elevated seismicity and shifts in gas emissions.

Authorities and researchers are seeking more sensitive and reliable tools to better understand subsurface processes and allow them to detect early warning signs. Conventional gravimeters, however, can suffer from mechanical drift and require frequent calibration, limiting their usefulness for long-term, continuous monitoring. Exail’s newly delivered AQGs are designed to measure extremely small variations in Earth’s gravitational field that are linked to underground mass movements such as magma migration. They employ laser-cooled rubidium atoms manipulated in vacuum, using photonics-based control to achieve long-term stability and high precision.

Exail’s newly delivered AQGs are designed to measure extremely small variations in Earth’s gravitational field that are linked to underground mass movements such as magma migration.

The first gravimeter has already been installed at the northwestern edge of Tenerife, complementing existing geophysical instruments within INVOLCAN’s network. The two remaining units are scheduled for deployment in the coming months, adding to the small network capable of tracking subtle changes in subsurface dynamics with greater confidence. 

According to INVOLCAN, the additional sensitivity provided by the AQGs is expected to improve real-time assessments of volcanic activity and strengthen early warning capabilities, supporting more informed decision making in the event of seismic unrest.

Exail is a family-owned company specialized in high technology and it has already deployed more than 20 quantum gravimeters around the world, including installations on Mount Etna. The company, which employs a workforce of 2,000+ people worldwide and is headquartered in Paris, France, emphasizes that the instruments have no moving mechanical parts, require no routine maintenance, and can operate under challenging environmental conditions, which is key to maintaining reliable continuous monitoring applications. 

The delivery to Tenerife underscores the transition of quantum gravimetry from experimental demonstrations to industrial-grade, operational systems. Beyond volcano surveillance, Exail sees growing potential for AQGs in a range of applications for Earth observation such as climate studies or groundwater monitoring. More broadly, this move cements the use of quantum photonic technologies to operational maturity, shifting out of the laboratory and into the field,  and fully supporting environmental resilience and public safety.