Grapes Can Improve Quantum Sensors

 


New research was released in Physical Review Applied on December 20, 2024. Macquarie University scientists have  shown how grapes can improve the performance of quantum sensors. This could lead to systematic improvement to quantum technologies.

Pairs of grapes can create strong localized magnetic field hotspots of microwaves. These hotspots are used in quantum sensing applications. This could help create smaller and more cost-effective quantum devices.

Ali Fawaz is lead author of the study and is a quantum physics PhD candidate at Macquarie University. He reports, “ While previous studies looked at the electrical fields causing the plasma effect, we showed that grape pairs can also enhance magnetic fields, which are crucial for quantum sensing applications.”

Prior studies focused on electrical fields. The new study by the Macquarie team examined magnetic field effects important for quantum uses. 

Dr. Sarath Nair is a lecturer in quantum technology at Macquarie University. He reports, “ The nitrogen vacancy centers in the nanodiamonds we used in the study act like tiny magnets that we can use for quantum sensing.”

The team used a diamond containing special atoms. They placed their quantum sensor on the tip of a glass fiber and situated it between two grapes. They used a green laser light to make the atoms glow red. The red glow showed how strong the microwave field is around the grapes.

Fawaz reports, “ Using this technique, we found the magnetic field of the microwave radiation becomes twice as strong when we add the grapes.”

Professor Thomas Volz is senior author of the study and is head of the quantum materials and applications group at Macquarie School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. 

He reports, “ This research opens up another avenue for exploring alternative microwave resonator designs for quantum technology, potentially leading to more compact and efficient quantum sensing devices.”

Size and shape of the grape is very important to this experiment. Each grape is approximately 27 mm long. It’s important to concentrate the microwave energy at the correct frequency of the diamond quantum sensor.

Typically sapphires are used, not grapes. The Macquarie Team believes water might work even better, so grapes are perfect for testing the theory.

“ Water is actually better than sapphire at concentrating microwave energy, but it’s also less stable and loses more energy in the process. That’s our key challenge to solve,”  summarizes Fawaz. 

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