Sunday, November 5, 2023
``Materials & Surface Science of Quantum Sensing``
Quantum sensing is an important branch of the recently ongoing revolution towards quantum information science, where the idea is to use quantum mechanical properties of the probe as a very sensitive sensing mechanism. Near term real-world applications include using NV centers in diamond e.g., for biosensing or for providing spatially resolved maps of local magnetic fields in quantum diamond microscopes. At the same time, quantum sensing raises interesting fundamental materials and surface science questions.
From a materials science point of view, it is important to provide deep understanding of what defect/host material combinations are best suited for specific sensing properties, possibly outperforming NV centers in diamond. Developing a proper experimental and theoretical understanding of underlying property-function relationships is critical and immediately connects to high-quality synthesis of the host material and precise fabrication and spacing of the point defects used as the probe.
From a surface science point of view the above questions are exacerbated since, for sensing, a balance needs to be achieved: High sensitivity would favor close proximity of the quantum defect to the surface and, thus, the sample; however, in this case too, noise arises as a problem and is typically attributed to surface defects and differences in screening compared to bulk materials. This can be mitigated by placing the quantum system deeper into the bulk host material, at the cost of reducing sensitivity to the sample. Better understanding of the origin of such noise and how to eliminate these is needed.
In this workshop we aim to bring together materials and surface scientists to discuss the problems above, as well as possible solutions and to present successful contemporary applications of quantum sensing.
Invited Speakers:
• Edward Bielejec, Sandia National Laboratories
• Srabanti Chowdhury, Stanford University
• Boubacar Kanté, University of California, Berkeley
• Peter Maurer, The University of Chicago