QMag

The optimization of complex electronic circuits, the visualization of individual bits in electronic storage media, or a look into the tiny magnetic fields of the heart and brain to improve medical diagnostics - all this becomes possible with quantum sensor technology. Quantum sensors achieve outstanding properties in the combination of spatial resolution and sensitivity. Different sensor principles can be combined, allowing for very compact designs to complete systems.

As a subfield of quantum sensor technology, quantum magnetometry encompasses the research and development of atomic quantum sensors for the ultra-sensitive detection of magnetic fields in biophotonic and geophysical applications. Today's magnetometers have too low a spatial resolution or sensitivity for future applications. In the Fraunhofer lead project QMag, magnetometers will be further developed and tested for applications. Two different magnetometer principles based on quantum technology concepts will be used: On the one hand, nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond will be used to act as the smallest scanning magnets in an imaging scanning probe magnetometer. This turns a single atomic system into a highly sensitive sensor that can be operated at room temperature. On the other hand, an alternative measuring method utilizes the magnetic field dependence of the optical properties of alkali atoms (optically pumped alkali magnetometer, OPM).

Based on prototypes of such magnetometers, cost-effective, complete measuring systems are to be developed for specific applications. The two measurement methods are complementary in terms of maximum spatial resolution and extreme sensitivity so that different new applications can be developed. Such novel quantum magnetometers could be used, for example, to test and optimize micro- and nanoelectronic components in a non-destructive manner. Even individual bits in storage media could be visualized.

Video: https://www.iaf.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/iaf/multimedia/videos/Diamant/180409_Quantensensorik_DE.mp4

Project page: https://www.qmag.fraunhofer.de/

Participating FMD member institutes: Fraunhofer IAF und IISB

Other Fraunhofer partners include: Fraunhofer IPM, IWM, IMM, CAP