Quantum sensing and measurement devices are reaching a new level of accuracy for high-precision measurements, allowing detection of the most minute changes in magnetic, electric, and strain fields, gravity, and time. In this talk, I will present an overview of how integrated photonic and nanophotonic devices utilize entanglement to improve measurement accuracy and sensitivity. Examples will include the development of ultrabright and ultra-efficient quantum light sources as resources for sensors, integrated photonic magnetometry with exquisite sensitivity that can be further enhanced with squeezing, and strain sensors based on optomechanical modulation of quantum emitters via surface acoustic wave resonators.
Quantum sensing and measurement devices are reaching a new level of accuracy for high-precision measurements, allowing detection of the most minute changes in magnetic, electric, and strain fields, gravity, and time. In this talk, I will present an overview of how integrated photonic and nanophotonic devices utilize entanglement to improve measurement accuracy and sensitivity. Examples will include the development of ultrabright and ultra-efficient quantum light sources as resources for sensors, integrated photonic magnetometry with exquisite sensitivity that can be further enhanced with squeezing, and strain sensors based on optomechanical modulation of quantum emitters via surface acoustic wave resonators.
Atomic sensors—devices that utilize individual atoms as the sensing mechanism—offer enormous prospects for high sensitivity, accuracy and immunity to environmental noise. This is because such sensors leverage quantum mechanical properties of the atom such as internal energy level splittings that do not change with time and are immune to sensor fabrication errors. While some of these sensors are now commercially available, they are still bulky instruments that must be individually assembled by hand and will not be widely disseminated in their current form. In this talk I will discuss a new architecture for quantum sensors based on miniaturized atomic beams, with applications to clocks, gyroscopes and photonic quantum devices.
Quantum sensors have revolutionized the field of precision measurement by exploiting quantum coherence, entanglement, and interference. These sensors offer unprecedented sensitivity in measuring time, magnetic and electric fields, acceleration, and gravitational forces. Recent developments in atomic clocks, nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center magnetometers, and optomechanical devices have shown significant enhancements in performance. This paper explores the fundamental principles behind quantum sensors, key technological advancements, and real-world applications ranging from navigation to medical imaging and gravitational wave detection.
This paper explores the potential of quantum metrology, specifically utilizing entangled photon pairs, to significantly enhance the precision of measurement systems. Traditional metrology is often limited by the fundamental precision constraints imposed by classical physics. Entanglement, a quantum mechanical phenomenon where two or more particles are linked in such a way that they share the same fate, regardless of the distance separating them, offers a pathway to overcome these limitations. This work details the theoretical framework for employing entangled photon pairs to minimize measurement noise and improve sensor accuracy. The core claim is that leveraging these correlations can provide a measurable advantage over classical techniques. The proposed mechanism focuses on reducing uncertainties associated with the measurement process by exploiting the inherent correlations between the entangled photons. The research targets applications like gravitational wave detection and biological imaging, where high precision is paramount. The paper presents a comprehensive overview of the theoretical concepts and potential advancements offered by this approach, laying the groundwork for future experimental investigations.
Quantum technologies are increasingly driving the field of precision metrology. While current techniques for sensing and recording time rely on classical devices, quantum sensors exploit quantum systems to reach unprecedented levels of precision. The working part of the sensor contains one or a few qubits, and resources like quantum entanglement are chosen and tailored to maximize sensitivity. This review introduces quantum sensing from the perspective of working experimentalists, with specific sensor implementations, concepts and methods, and recent developments.
The discrete electronic energy levels in atoms and the ability to probe and control them using their interactions with electromagnetic fields have enabled a host of applications in quantum sensing and metrology, including atom-based time and frequency standards, magnetometers, and inertial sensors. Precision measurements with atoms rely on the capability to control the frequency, phase, polarization, and direction of photons used to prepare and measure quantum systems, and thus developments in near-infrared optics and photonics are critical to advancing state-of-the-art atomic sensors. In this talk, I will summarize the basic principles of atom-based quantum sensing and highlight the role of atom-photon interactions in quantum measurements. The benefits and challenges of realizing atom-based quantum sensors will be illustrated through examples from my prior research, including the development of sensitive accelerometers and gyroscopes based on cold-atom interferometers. I will discuss the critical developments in photonic engineering that are still needed to improve the performance and functionality of atom-based-quantum sensors and our research progress at UW-Madison towards addressing these needs.
Quantum sensors and metrology harness quantum phenomena—such as superposition, entanglement, and squeezing—to achieve precision measurements beyond classical limits. This review presents an overview of the fundamental principles underlying quantum sensing, including quantum coherence, entanglement-assisted measurement, and quantum-enhanced interferometry. Various quantum sensor platforms are discussed, including atomic clocks, nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center magnetometers, superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), optomechanical sensors, and trapped-ion systems. We explore their operational mechanisms, performance metrics, and technological implementations. Comparative analyses highlight sensitivity, spatial resolution, bandwidth, and environmental robustness. Advances in materials, control techniques, and hybrid architectures are examined, and emerging applications in navigation, geophysics, medical imaging, and fundamental physics are reviewed. Finally, future prospects for scalable and robust quantum metrology are discussed.