The second quantum revolution hinges on the creation of materials that unite atomic structural precision with electronic and structural tunability. A molecular approach to quantum information science (QIS) promises to enable the bottom-up creation of quantum systems. Within the broad reach of QIS, which spans fields ranging from quantum computation to quantum communication, we will focus on quantum sensing. Quantum sensing harnesses quantum control to interrogate the world around us. A broadly applicable class of quantum sensors would feature adaptable environmental compatibility, control over distance from the target analyte, and a tunable energy range of interaction. Molecules enable customizable "designer" quantum sensors with tunable functionality and compatibility across a range of environments. These capabilities offer the potential to bring unmatched sensitivity and spatial resolution to address a wide range of sensing tasks from the characterization of dynamic biological processes to the detection of emergent phenomena in condensed matter. In this Outlook, we outline the concepts and design criteria central to quantum sensors and look toward the next generation of designer quantum sensors based on new classes of molecular sensors.
The second quantum revolution hinges on the creation of materials that unite atomic structural precision with electronic and structural tunability. A molecular approach to quantum information science (QIS) promises to enable the bottom-up creation of quantum systems. Within the broad reach of QIS, which spans fields ranging from quantum computation to quantum communication, we will focus on quantum sensing. Quantum sensing harnesses quantum control to interrogate the world around us. A broadly applicable class of quantum sensors would feature adaptable environmental compatibility, control over distance from the target analyte, and a tunable energy range of interaction. Molecules enable customizable "designer" quantum sensors with tunable functionality and compatibility across a range of environments. These capabilities offer the potential to bring unmatched sensitivity and spatial resolution to address a wide range of sensing tasks from the characterization of dynamic biological processes to the detection of emergent phenomena in condensed matter. In this Outlook, we outline the concepts and design criteria central to quantum sensors and look toward the next generation of designer quantum sensors based on new classes of molecular sensors.
I n this Physical Chemistry of Quantum Information Science (QIS) Virtual Special Issue, we delve into the research areas that have attracted significant attention and promise to reshape the landscape of quantum information science with a focus on molecular and materials systems.The topics explored here encompass theoretical and computational pursuits as well as cutting-edge experiments.The issue was inspired by recent innovations and discoveries in this active research field.Control of molecular quantum states has improved dramatically thanks to advances in producing cold molecular beams and trapped gas samples. 1 Manipulation of individual molecules in optical tweezers and of many-body interactions in various optical lattice configurations has opened exciting possibilities. 2 Likewise, control of quantum states has been achieved or proposed in a variety of materials, from defects in bulk materials to thin films and quantum dots and even large molecules such as dyes and fullerenes.The breadth of quantum technologies to which these molecular and materials platforms have the potential to cater is vast, including areas of sensing, computing, quantum optics, and beyond.Specifically, quantum computing may be poised to augment classical computations and offer solutions for challenging chemical problems, while quantum sensors can exhibit unprecedented sensitivity.These possibilities go beyond what is attainable with today's limited number of materials platforms, illustrating the central role of chemistry in the field of QIS.In this Virtual Special Issue, we explore quantum information science where molecular systems take center stage.We investigate the topic of quantum algorithms tailored for quantum chemistry, molecular dynamics, and statistical mechanics.This includes a quest to enhance the accuracy of classical computations for difficult chemistry problems involving strongly correlated systems in the works by A.
The ability to detect and characterize single molecules in their native environments is paramount for advancing fields ranging from fundamental biology to advanced materials science. Traditional single-molecule detection methods often face limitations in terms of sensitivity, spatial resolution, and the ability to perform measurements in situ, especially in complex biological matrices. This paper explores the transformative potential of quantum-enhanced nanosensors to overcome these limitations, enabling ultrasensitive single-molecule detection directly within living systems or operational devices. We review the fundamental principles of quantum phenomena, such as entanglement, squeezing, and quantum coherence, and discuss how they can be harnessed to push sensing capabilities beyond classical limits. Various architectures of quantum-enhanced nanosensors, including those based on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, quantum dots, and optomechanical systems, are examined for their unique advantages in detecting minute perturbations caused by single molecules. The paper delves into methodologies for designing, fabricating, and functionalizing these nanosensors for specific targets, emphasizing strategies for achieving high spatial resolution and robust in situ operation. We present a theoretical framework for assessing the enhanced signal-to-noise ratio and reduced detection limits offered by quantum metrology. Potential applications span real-time monitoring of biochemical reactions, early disease diagnosis, and the development of next-generation analytical tools. Finally, the challenges and future directions for realizing widespread practical implementation of quantum-enhanced nanosensors for in situ single-molecule detection are critically discussed, highlighting the interdisciplinary efforts required at the intersection of quantum physics, nanotechnology, and life sciences.
The field of quantum sensing leverages quantum mechanical resources such as superposition, entanglement, and squeezing to surpass classical limits in measurement precision and enable new sensing modalities. This Special Topic Collection in Applied Physics Reviews brings together recent advances spanning theory, materials, device engineering, and applications of quantum sensors. Contributions cover a wide range of platforms, including atomic, solid-state, optomechanics, and photonics, highlighting both fundamental science and emerging technologies. The collection illustrates the transition of quantum sensing from foundational concepts toward scalable technologies and broadens its impact across physics, engineering, and applied sciences.
Atomically thin two-dimensional materials, with their ultra-thin structure and exceptional sensitivity to the local environment, are emerging as an important platform for next-generation quantum sensing. Their van der Waals bonding and atomic thin layers allow sensing elements to be placed in extremely close proximity to target systems—often just a few atoms away. This proximity dramatically enhances interactions with local optical, mechanical, and electrostatic fields, enabling exceptionally sensitive detection with ultrahigh spatial resolution. Beyond sensitivity, the layered van der Waals architecture offers a unique opportunity to integrate multiple sensing functions into a unified platform, where sensing, signal amplification, and readout can be distributed across tailored layers rather than relying on a single sensor element. Recent advances in optically addressable spin defects in hexagonal boron nitride and excitonic and polaritonic platforms in transition-metal dichalcogenides highlight the emergence of a new generation of quantum and quantum-enhanced sensors. These sensors conform to various substrates and enable multiparameter detection. In this Perspective, we outline the principles that distinguish atomically thin quantum sensors from bulk counterparts and explore emerging opportunities and challenges in developing scalable, multifunctional 2D quantum sensing technologies.
Atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics has been at the forefront of the development of quantum science while laying the foundation for modern technology. With the growing capabilities of quantum control of many atoms for engineered many-body states and quantum entanglement, a key question emerges: what critical impact will the second quantum revolution with ubiquitous applications of entanglement bring to bear on fundamental physics? In this Essay, we argue that a compelling long-term vision for fundamental physics and novel applications is to harness the rapid development of quantum information science to define and advance the frontiers of measurement physics, with strong potential for fundamental discoveries. As quantum technologies, such as fault-tolerant quantum computing and entangled quantum sensor networks, become much more advanced than today's realization, we wonder what doors of basic science can these tools unlock. We anticipate that some of the most intriguing and challenging problems, such as quantum aspects of gravity, fundamental symmetries, or new physics beyond the minimal standard model, will be tackled at the emerging quantum measurement frontier. Part of a series of Essays which concisely present author visions for the future of their field.
Advancements in the field of Quantum Information Science (QIS) are expected to produce groundbreaking technologies in computing, sensing, and communications. These developments could have an impact on the economy and workforce of the United States. In order to achieve this vision and sustain U.S. leadership in QIS, however, a robust research enterprise needs to be established. Presently, QIS has reached an inflection point for new discoveries; searching for novel quantum molecular materials that are operational, practical, and efficient is now the new frontier. Since chemistry is the study of manipulating molecular properties across different lengths and time-scales, it has a tremendous opportunity to take a leading role in this untapped domain. Blending QIS and chemistry together will accelerate progress in designing new quantum molecular materials, developing novel measurement tools and techniques, and establishing new quantum computing standards. A recent National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report, Advancing Chemistry and Quantum Information Science, points to fundamental research areas at the interface of these two disciplines that should be pursued in the near-term. Here, a brief overview of these research directions as well as collaboration and infrastructure needs identified from the report are presented.