An international collaboration between Germany’s Forschungszentrum Jülich and Korea’s IBS Center for Quantum Nanoscience (QNS) has led to the development of a revolutionary quantum sensor capable of detecting minute magnetic fields at the atomic-length scale. This pioneering work has brought scientists closer to realizing the dream of having an MRI-like tool for quantum materials.
The Challenge of Measuring Physical Quantities at the Atomic Level
The diameter of an atom is incredibly small, making it challenging to visualize and measure physical quantities like electric and magnetic fields that emerge from atoms. To address this issue, the research team focused on developing a highly sensitive quantum sensor that could operate at the atomic scale. Traditional sensors rely on defects in crystal lattices to sense electric and magnetic fields, but these defects are often located at a considerable distance from the object being studied.
The key innovation behind the newly developed quantum sensor lies in using a single molecule as the sensing element. By attaching this molecule to the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope, the researchers were able to bring it within a few atomic distances of the object, enabling precise measurements of electric and magnetic properties at the atomic level. This approach marks a significant departure from conventional sensing methods and offers unprecedented spatial resolution in quantum measurements.
Dr. Taner Esat, lead author of the Jülich team, expressed his excitement about the potential applications of the quantum sensor, emphasizing its ability to provide MRI-like images of materials while setting new standards for spatial resolution in quantum sensing. The sensor’s energy resolution allows for detecting changes in magnetic and electric fields with remarkable precision, opening up transformative avenues for engineering quantum materials, designing catalysts, and exploring quantum behavior in molecular systems.
The development of this atomic-scale quantum sensor is expected to have far-reaching implications across various scientific disciplines. By enabling researchers to explore and understand materials at their most fundamental level, the quantum sensor has the potential to drive new discoveries in quantum technology, biochemistry, and other fields. As Dr. Dimitry Borodin of QNS points out, the use of an exquisitely engineered quantum object to resolve atomic properties represents a groundbreaking achievement that will shape the future of quantum research.
The successful collaboration between the research teams from Jülich and QNS has resulted in the construction of a record-holding quantum device with unprecedented capabilities. This quantum sensor, with its atomic-scale spatial resolution and versatile implementation in laboratories worldwide, embodies the limitless potential of technology for manipulating matter at the atomic level. As Professor Temirov of Jülich highlights, the development of this quantum sensor marks a significant milestone in the field of quantum technology and promises to revolutionize the way we study and manipulate matter at the atomic scale.
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