{"674486":{"#nid":"674486","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Physicists Pioneer New Quantum Sensing Platform","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EQuantum sensors detect the smallest of environmental changes \u2014 for example, an atom reacting to a magnetic field. As these sensors \u201cread\u201d the unique behaviors of subatomic particles, they also dramatically improve scientists\u2019 ability to measure and detect changes in our wider environment.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMonitoring these tiny changes results in a wide range of applications \u2014\u0026nbsp;from improving navigation and natural disaster forecasting, to smarter medical imaging and detection of biomarkers of disease, gravitational wave detection, and even better quantum communication for secure data sharing.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech physicists are pioneering new quantum sensing platforms to aid in these efforts. The research team\u2019s latest study, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.adk8495\u0022\u003ESensing Spin Wave Excitations by Spin Defects in Few-Layer Thick Hexagonal Boron Nitride\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d was published in \u003Cem\u003EScience Advances\u003C\/em\u003E this week.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe research team includes \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Physics\u003C\/a\u003E Assistant Professors \u003Cstrong\u003EChunhui (Rita) Du\u003C\/strong\u003E and \u003Cstrong\u003EHailong Wang\u003C\/strong\u003E (corresponding authors) alongside fellow Georgia Tech researchers \u003Cstrong\u003EJingcheng Zhou\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EMengqi Huang\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EFaris Al-matouq\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EJiu Chang\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EDziga Djugba\u003C\/strong\u003E, and Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EZhigang Jiang\u003C\/strong\u003E and their collaborators.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAn ultra-sensitive platform\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe new research investigates quantum sensing by leveraging color centers \u2014 small defects within crystals (Du\u2019s team uses diamonds and other 2D layered materials) that allow light to be absorbed and emitted, which also give the crystal unique electronic properties.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBy embedding these color centers into a material called hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), the team hoped to create an extremely sensitive quantum sensor \u2014 a new resource for developing next-generation, transformative sensing devices.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFor its part, hBN is particularly attractive for quantum sensing and computing because it could contain defects that can be manipulated with light \u2014 also known as \u0022optically active spin qubits.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe quantum spin defects in hBN are also very magnetically sensitive, and allow scientists to \u201csee\u201d or \u201csense\u201d in more detail than other conventional techniques. In addition, the sheet-like structure of hBN is compatible with ultra-sensitive tools like nanodevices, making it a particularly intriguing resource for investigation.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe team\u2019s research has resulted in a critical breakthrough in sensing spin waves, Du says, explaining that \u201cin this study, we were able to detect spin excitations that were simply unattainable in previous studies.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDetecting spin waves is a fundamental component of quantum sensing, because these phenomena can travel for long distances, making them an ideal candidate for energy-efficient information control, communication, and processing.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe future of quantum\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFor the first time, we experimentally demonstrated two-dimensional van der Waals quantum sensing \u2014 using few-layer thick hBN in a real-world environment,\u201d Du explains, underscoring the potential the material holds for precise quantum sensing. \u201cFurther research could make it possible to sense electromagnetic features at the atomic scale using color centers in thin layers of hBN.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDu also emphasizes the collaborative nature of the research, highlighting the diverse skill sets and resources of researchers within Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWithin the School of Physics, Professor Zhigang Jiang\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/zhigang-jiang\u0022\u003Eresearch group\u003C\/a\u003E provided the team with high-quality hBN crystals. Jingcheng Zhou,\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Ewho is a member of both Professor Hailong Wang\u2019s and my research teams, performed the cutting-edge quantum sensing measurements,\u201d she says. \u201cMany incredible students also helped with this project.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDu is a leading scientist in the field of quantum sensing \u2014 this year, she received \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/news\/chunhui-du-awarded-doe-grant-quantum-sensing-research\u0022\u003Ea new grant from the U.S. Department of Energy\u003C\/a\u003E, along with a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/news\/sciences-faculty-awarded-sloan-research-fellowships\u0022\u003ESloan Research Fellowship\u003C\/a\u003E for her pioneering work on developing state-of-the-art quantum sensing techniques for quantum information technology applications. The prestigious Sloan award recognizes researchers whose \u201ccreativity, innovation, and research accomplishments make them stand out as the next-generation of leaders in the fields.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/sciadv.adk8495\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EDOI: 10.1126\/sciadv.adk8495\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis work is supported by the U. S. National Science Foundation (NSF) under award No. DMR-2342569, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under award No. FA9550-20-1-0319 and its Young Investigator Program under award No. FA9550-21-1-0125, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under grant No. N00014-23-1-2146, NASA-REVEALS SSERVI (CAN No. NNA17BF68A), and NASA-CLEVER SSERVI (CAN No. 80NSSC23M0229).\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech physicists are investigating quantum sensing and leveraging cutting-edge techniques \u2014 embedding color centers in a 2D layered material called hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). The researchers\u2019 results have created a new resource for developing next-generation, ultra-sensitive quantum electronic devices.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The researchers\u2019 results have created a new resource for developing next-generation, ultra-sensitive quantum electronic devices."}],"uid":"35599","created_gmt":"2024-05-02 14:27:52","changed_gmt":"2024-05-07 17:41:28","author":"sperrin6","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-05-02T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-05-02T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"673921":{"id":"673921","type":"image","title":"Credit: Unsplash","body":null,"created":"1714660107","gmt_created":"2024-05-02 14:28:27","changed":"1714660107","gmt_changed":"2024-05-02 14:28:27","alt":"Credit: Unsplash","file":{"fid":"257377","name":"zak-7wBFsHWQDlk-unsplash.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/02\/zak-7wBFsHWQDlk-unsplash.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/02\/zak-7wBFsHWQDlk-unsplash.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3269784,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/05\/02\/zak-7wBFsHWQDlk-unsplash.jpg?itok=g4VS2hu9"}},"673922":{"id":"673922","type":"image","title":"From left to right: Hailong Wang, Jingcheng Zhou, Chunhui (Rita Du)","body":null,"created":"1714660107","gmt_created":"2024-05-02 14:28:27","changed":"1714660107","gmt_changed":"2024-05-02 14:28:27","alt":"From left to right: Hailong Wang, Jingcheng Zhou, Chunhui (Rita Du)","file":{"fid":"257378","name":"science advance story_lab photo.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/02\/science%20advance%20story_lab%20photo.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/02\/science%20advance%20story_lab%20photo.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":260533,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/05\/02\/science%20advance%20story_lab%20photo.jpg?itok=HbarXy-m"}}},"media_ids":["673921","673922"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"149","name":"Nanotechnology and Nanoscience"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192251","name":"cos-quantum"},{"id":"193266","name":"cos-research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187433","name":"go-ien"},{"id":"186870","name":"go-imat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39471","name":"Materials"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWritten by Selena Langner\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EContact: \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: jess.hunt@cos.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJess Hunt-Raston\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nDirector of Communications\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCollege of Sciences at Georgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}