ZOOM
Quantum( SENSING) leap
Let’ s take the example of PROMISE( PROtotypes of Magnetic Imaging Systems for Europe); the aim is to develop widefield NV-based magnetometers at TRL7. Currently, this approach is mostly developed in research labs dedicated to NV research, with the only opportunity outside the research lab offered by the US company QDM. Over 44 months, PROMISE will develop a versatile and user-friendly instrument that does not require expertise in quantum sensing or NV technology, but rather an imaging system for magnetic fields. The versatility of the prototypes is addressed from two fronts: research and technology organizations( RTOs) and an SME joining forces to develop the instrument, and from the other front industrial and academic use cases to benchmark and challenge the NV technology. The PROMISE consortium is completed with experts in the standardization of quantum technologies, NV technology in particular, and a business and innovation consultancy for exploitation and dissemination, as well as screening industrial opportunities for the NV widefield approach.
Four use cases will validate the widefield magnetometer prototypes, with implications for the semiconductor industry, materials science, aerospace and biotechnology. The proximity of quantum sensors based on NVs to be integrated into industrial processes and their market potential is evident in PROMISE, where industrial partners are not experts in quantum technologies. The industry, globally, will benefit from a tool that improves its devices, materials, and production processes, deepens understanding of mechanisms at the atomic level, and monitors events and dynamics for more accurate predictions and addressing pressing challenges in various fields. All together PROMISE focuses on technology development supporting industrialization and use case testing.
The NV based widefield magnetometer is an interesting approach where high spatial resolution and high sensitivity need to be combined with dynamic samples. Specifically, the project will show applicability in three fields: Materials engineering, through the analysis of corrosion in alloys; Semiconductor industry, analyzing current flow distribution in electronic chips; and Biotechnology, by monitoring the evolution of tumoral cells. Additionally, the technology will benefit from innovations of the different components of the instrument. The most obvious is the engineering of the NV layer on the diamond surface, requiring a combination of NV layer depth, thickness, and concentration beneficial for the entire NV technology field. An optimized rf controller will be developed to vastly reduce weight, volume, power consumption and cost compared to commercial solutions. This will enhance the user-friendliness of the instrument but mainly pave the way for future commercialization facilitating a reduced final price and commission. Although commercial scientific cameras have different high-performance functions, they are not fast enough to detect single NV spin events. Therefore, a pixel array sensor will be integrated into the instruments for faster and lower signal detection, adapting to various acquisition protocols available for NVs. The exploitation of the results may come not only from a refined prototype that can achieve higher TRLs but also from the exploitation of the individual components relevant in the quantum field.
Machine learning experts will optimize data acquisition and analysis by leveraging their knowledge of the physics of NV centers. Additionally, as mentioned above, standardizing designs and methods will be considered for an easy industrialization.
During the 44 months, PROMISE will operate in two cycles. The second cycle will refine specific details of the prototypes, components, and test with more complex use case samples. The goal is that at some point in the second cycle
REFERENCES
[ 1 ] L. Rondin, et al. Reports on Progress in Physics 77( 5), 056503( 2014)
a potential manufacturer will consider commercialization of the widefield magnetometer in the future. Ideally, the manufacturer will advise the consortium on appropriate testing for future commercialization. However, this is a difficult path, so all partners will protect their designs and methods through patents and IP repositories. They themselves have several commercialization options: licensing the various component designs to instrument manufacturers; creating spinoff companies; using a mixed approach in which the technology is licensed for specific fields and commercialized through spin-off companies for others; and potentially forming a joint venture between the partners. The path chosen will depend on market penetration and certification requirements.
Thus, the NV-based sensing technology has evolved from academic research to actual industrial interest in roughly fifteen years, and it has now already entered in a phase of maturity that reflects in a global effort for standardization of the techniques and in a dash of the technological readiness. A fantastic voyage indeed!
Acknowledgement
This article has been prepared in the context of the activities of: the projects 23NRM04 NoQTeS( 23NRM04 NoQTeS has received funding from the European Partnership on Metrology, co-financed from the European Union’ s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme and by the Participating States) and PROMISE project( funded by the European Union, Grant Agreement 101189611).
[ 2 ] J. M. Taylor, et al., Nature Phys. 4( 10), 810( 2008). doi: 10.1038 / nphys1075 [ 3 ] F. Dolde, et al., Nature Phys. 7, 459( 2011) [ 4 ] G. Kucsko, et al., Nature 500( 7460), 54( 2013) [ 5 ] G. Petrini, et al., Adv. Sci. 9, 2202014( 2022) [ 6 ] O. van Deventer, et al., EPJ Quantum Technol. 9, 33( 2022)
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