Quantum Magnetometry Facility

Lead Research Organisation: Heriot-Watt University
Department Name: Sch of Engineering and Physical Science

Abstract

The spin of a single electron is the smallest possible magnetic sensor, operating at the smallest limits of spatial resolution. Research by the quantum technology community in the past couple of decades has opened the capability to control and detect individual electronic spins, in particular the spin associated with the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) point defect in diamond. Integration of NV spins into diamond AFM tips has enabled scanning probe detection of magnetic fields with high sensitivity and spatial resolution of few tens of nanometers (10,000x smaller than the width of a human hair!), over a broad temperature range (from room temperature to the coldest temperatures in the universe - milliKelvin regime). In addition, NV centres in diamond have been used to detect and control individual electronic spins (for example spin-labelled biological proteins on the diamond surface) or even individual nuclear spins of a single atom (13C nuclei in the diamond).

The Quantum Magnetometry Facility at Heriot-Watt University is a 'turn-key' magnetic sensing instrument, based on single NV centres in diamond, operating down to temperatures very close to absolute zero. This facility will enable scientists to prove novel physics in different systems, such as the rich interplay between superconductivity, ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism in unconventional superconductors, magnetic ordering in atomically-thin 2D materials and heterostructures, etc. These investigations will be very important, for example, to develop new materials and new physical effects that may lead to next-generation "beyond-silicon" electronic devices. Long-term applications of our fundamental investigations could be, for example, Mott transistors, where the gate voltage would switch the device between insulator and metal states, with a much better efficiency than current devices. Or it could provide insights into the enigmatic room temperature superconductor, whose application potential is enormous.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description While the experimental equipment is still being set up and characterised, we have performed some preliminary work to improve the data acquisition speed through the use of machine learning techniques. Our results (PhysRevApplied 21, 024041) show that a factor 5-10 can be gained in speed even for simple (but practically relevant relaxation measurements).
Exploitation Route Several research groups have already asked us for help to implement the technology in their own labs. We have also collaborated with a company, Zurich Instruments (vendor of fast electronics for signal generation), and written a blog post on their website to disseminate the technology (https://www.zhinst.com/europe/en/blogs/speeding-nv-center-measurements-real-time-control)
Sectors Chemicals

Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)

Electronics

Energy

Healthcare

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

URL https://www.zhinst.com/europe/en/blogs/speeding-nv-center-measurements-real-time-control
 
Description Normating colour-centre-based quantum sensing technology towards industrial application and standards
Amount £2,000,000 (GBP)
Organisation European Association of National Metrology Institutes (EURAMET) 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country Germany
Start 03/2024 
End 03/2027
 
Description QS-Precision Inertial Navigation (QS-PIN)
Amount £120,000 (GBP)
Funding ID 10086180 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2023 
End 11/2023
 
Description Quantum sensing of two-dimensional quantum materials
Amount £99,833 (GBP)
Funding ID DSTL0000002448 
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2023 
End 12/2025
 
Title Real-time frequency estimation of a qubit without single-shot-readout 
Description Dataset for figures 3a, 3b and 4b in our manuscript. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The dataset has been downloaded 25 times, so other researchers are interested in the dataset. We have not been directly contacted about the datasets 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7735975
 
Title Software for Adaptive Control 
Description The software package simulates adaptive Bayesian inference to learn parameters of quantum systems (e.g. for quantum sensing), and controls adaptive quantum sensing experiments in the lab 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact The software enabled us to perform several adaptive sensing experiments (e.g. Phys. Rev. Applied 21, 024026), also in collaboration with groups overseas (Quantum Science and Technology 8 (3), 035017) 
 
Description Engaging in Nitrogen Vacancy Diamond Quantum Sensing for Healthcare Applications 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Talk at a InnovateUK webinar event about quantum sensing for the healthcare industry
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/events/nitrogen-vacancy-diamond-quantum-sensing-for-healthcare-applications/