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arXiv:2504.15114 · Nanophotonics

Sensing with quantum light: a perspective

Animesh Datta

Published Feb 13, 2025• 7 citations
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Abstract

I present my perspective on sensing with quantum light. I summarise the motivations and methodology for identifying quantum enhancements in sensing over a classical sensor. In the real world, this enhancement will be a constant factor and not increase with the size of the quantum probe as is often advertised. I use a limited survey of interferometry, microscopy and spectroscopy to extract the vital challenges that must be faced to realise tangible enhancements in sensing with quantum light.

DOI
10.1515/nanoph-2024-0649

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I present my perspective on sensing with quantum light. I summarise the motivations and methodology for identifying quantum enhancements in sensing over a classical sensor. In the real world, this enhancement will be a constant factor and not increase with the size of the quantum probe as is often advertised. I use a limited survey of interferometry, microscopy and spectroscopy to extract the vital challenges that must be faced to realise tangible enhancements in sensing with quantum light.
Amazing developing of different fundamental and applied areas of quantum science created an ‘explosion’ of alternative paradigms, theoretical methods, experimental approaches and numerical tools. For any particular area, for instance, quantum sensing, a researcher or an engineer who want to get a basic knowledge on the subject can feel lost facing the exponentially extending number of publications in the given field. From one hand, now there is no need to explain the importance of the new generation of quantum devices: the accuracy and fidelity of quantum sensors to compare with their classical physics-based competitors is totally out of discussion. From another hand, observing so many different types of quantum sensors, and so many protocols of sensing, ones can ask themselves: which type of sensor or of protocol should I chose for my practical purpose? The researchers may ask themselves: which types of quantum devices have the best perspective in particular real-life applications, and which of them have rather an academic interest? Here we develop an objective approach to evaluate quantum sensor perspectives in different real-life applications and to provide a guiding thread via the Minotaur labyrinth of different quantum approaches to the most appropriate ones. First, we give a brief review of the most prominent quantum sensor prototypes that we have now in the market. Then, we discuss pros and cons of them in the perspective of real-life application. As a matter of our particular research interest, we also observe some control methods to improve the quantum sensing implementation for different sensor types.
Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) face persistent challenges such as high attenuation, limited bandwidth, and environmental interference, which constrain their reliability and performance. This survey investigates the potential of quantum sensing technologies to overcome these limitations. We systematically review and analyze quantum-enhanced detection methods, entanglement-based communication protocols, and quantum magnetometry for underwater applications. Our study highlights how quantum techniques can conceptually improve signal detection, extend communication range, and enhance positioning accuracy. By comparing existing surveys, identifying key research gaps, and outlining a roadmap for practical implementation, this work provides a comprehensive perspective on advancing UWSNs through quantum technologies.
It is now well appreciated that quantum physics can be used to build better sensors. Such sensors can be based on unitary systems like various types of interferometers or open systems based on scattering and lossy transmission channels. I would highlight not only the importance of the quantum states used as probes, but also the importance of the quantum-ness of the measurement schemes. I would bring out the especial importance of the squeezed states of matter and light for sensing studies. I would illustrate the results with experiments.
Quantum sensing is an emerging field of quantum optics that seeks to take advantage of quantum correlations available in quantum states of light to enable sensitivities beyond the fundamental classical limits. \nThe sensitivity of measurements and sensing apparatus when using classical states of light is limited to the shot-noise limit (SNL), which is achieved with coherent states of light. \n \nTwo-mode squeezed states of light (twin beams) have quantum correlations both in time and space, leading to temporal and spatial squeezing properties. \nSeveral applications can benefit from such noise reduction to enable new approaches, such as quantum-enhanced interferometry, quantum imaging, and quantum sensing. \nThe emergence of quantum technologies has been referred to as the second quantum revolution. \nFor metrology and sensing applications, in particular, it has led to new state-of-the-art sensitivity limits. \n \nIn this thesis, we discuss the implementation of quantum sensing based on squeezed states of light and plasmonic sensors as a platform for the demonstration of real-life quantum sensing. \nWe present a quantum-enhanced plasmonic sensing setup that can detect changes in the refractive index of air beyond the SNL. \nFurthermore, we generalize such experimental apparatus to probe an array of sensors using the quantum correlations present in different spatial locations to demonstrate a parallel quantum-enhanced plasmonic sensing scheme that can simultaneously detect changes in the refractive index of air in multiple locations with a single probing beam. \nThese results prove the applicability of twin beams for real-life applications based on plasmonic sensors. \nThe spatially resolved sensing scheme can be extended to pixel-size sensing of multiple sensors for multi-parameter estimation and detection applications to reach more complex sensing architectures.
Gravity sensing is a valuable technique used for several applications, including fundamental physics, civil engineering, metrology, geology, and resource exploration. While classical gravimeters have proven useful, they face limitations, such as mechanical wear on the test masses, resulting in drift, and limited measurement speeds, hindering their use for long-term monitoring, as well as the need to average out microseismic vibrations, limiting their speed of data acquisition. Emerging sensors based on atom interferometry for gravity measurements could offer promising solutions to these limitations, and are currently advancing towards portable devices for real-world applications. This article provides a brief state-of-the-art review of portable atom interferometry-based quantum sensors and provides a perspective on routes towards improved sensors.