Quantum sensing— overcoming the limits with the use of vapor cells.
The first quantum revolution led to the transistors and lasers that form the basis of computers, smartphones and internet connections. Today, a second revolution is on the way thanks to advanced methods for manipulating the fundamental quantum properties of systems and materials. Engineers worldwide are racing to get a handle on these new methods in order to develop breakthrough technology in fields like healthcare, security, transportation, energy and environmental science.
The EU-funded macQsimal project was launched in 2018 as part of the Quantum Flagship to explore how quantum properties can be used to develop sensors with unprecedented precision and sensitivity and to help establish a high-performance European industry in this field. The project was carried out by a consortium of 14 partners spanning the entire technology value chain, from fundamental research to industrial applications. The technology used in macQsimal employed highly effective sensors based on atomic vapor cells.
The common element for five different applications: optically-pumped magnetometers (OPMs), atomic clocks, atomic gyroscopes, GHz/THz sensors and imagers and Rydberg-based gas sensors.
How do you use magnetometers?
Imagine you were able to know exactly what is happening deep inside our bodies, to image brain activity with a precision never known before and determine if someone is developing neurodegenerative or other diseases before the symptoms are shown. Current sensing instruments are not accurate enough to measure susceptible things, but Quantum sensing could be the solution. In macQsimal, partners worked closely together to design, develop and validate compact OPMs for low-frequency and radio-frequency magnetic fields to further employ these quantum sensors in biomagnetic and medical applications (publications).
How to miniaturize atomic clocks?
The Global Positioning System (GPS) and Differential GPS (DGPS) use atomic clocks to locate positions within a meter and these systems are extensively used in navigation, geographical exploration, geology, archeology, paleontology and environmental studies to start with. Navigation in outer space also utilizes accurate atomic clocks.
Atomic watches could serve as a type of back-up generator in certain applications, says Jacques Haesler, the macQsimal project coordinator and a senior project manager at CSEM.
In macQsimal, partners join forces to cover and master the whole atomic clock development chain, from physics understanding and requirements assessment, through design and prototyping, manufacturing and even testing, up to product qualification and commercialization (publications).
How does an atomic gyroscope work?
Precise positioning is essential for modern mobility solutions, including automotive driving. In the case when Global Positioning Signal (GPS) and other systems observing the environment are temporarily unavailable, high-performance inertial sensors will be the only remaining navigation system using dead reckoning. This is localization based on a previously determined position and precise directional sensor signals from accelerometers and gyroscopes. The use of quantum effects in atomic vapor cells allows for high precision measurements of rotation rates and shows great promise for further miniaturization. The use of quantum effects in atomic vapor cells allows for high precision measurements of rotation rates and shows great promise for further miniaturization. In macQsimal, partners worked closely together to develop, fabricate and test a Compact Atomic Gyroscope demonstrator based on spin-exchange optical pumping (publications).
How to image microwaves?
Microwaves are a very important part of modern technology. For example, every cellphone and every wireless device communicates with microwaves. Microwaves are also used for navigation, for radar and even in medical applications. In macQsimal we have developed the tools to make these microwaves visible. An important feature is that we can tune the atoms with a magnetic field so that they are sensitive to a specific microwave frequency. Alternatively, we can also image the frequency spectrum of the microwave, to realize an atomic spectrum analyzer (publications).
How to detect a disease from exhaled breath?
Rydberg excitation and subsequent ionization are promising to be used as a new method to develop highly sensitive and yet extremely selective gas sensors. Why do we need such small, efficient and fast detectors for molecules? Nitric oxide (NO) is an important tracer gas for inflammatory diseases, like asthma and other severe conditions. If the NO concentration in exhaled breath is too high, one might be affected. For humans, we have devices to test for this. But medical research relies on mice and to advance we need advanced tools that use quantum technologies (publications).
macQsimal has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement №820393.
