In a major scientific leap, University of Queensland researchers have created a quantum micro­scope that can reveal biological structures that would otherwise be impossible to see. This paves the way for applications in biotech­nology, and could extend far beyond this into areas ranging from navigation to medical imaging. The microscope is powered by the science of quantum entanglement.

Warwick Bowen from UQ's Quantum Optics Lab said it was the first entangle­ment-based sensor with performance beyond the best possible existing technology. “This breakthrough will spark all sorts of new techno­logies – from better navigation systems to better MRI machines, you name it,” he said. “Entangle­ment is thought to lie at the heart of a quantum revolution. We've finally demonstrated that sensors that use it can supersede existing, non-quantum technology. This is exciting - it's the first proof of the paradigm-changing potential of entanglement for sensing.”, Bowen added.

Australia's Quantum Techno­logies Roadmap sees quantum sensors spurring a new wave of techno­logical innovation in healthcare, engi­neering, transport and resources. A major success of the team's quantum microscope was its ability to catapult over a hard barrier in traditional light-based micro­scopy. “The best light micro­scopes use bright lasers that are billions of times brighter than the sun,” Bowen said. “Fragile biological systems like a human cell can only survive a short time in them and this is a major roadblock.”

“The quantum entangle­ment in our microscope provides 35 percent improved clarity without destroying the cell, allowing us to see minute biological structures that would otherwise be invisible. The benefits are obvious – from a better under­standing of living systems, to improved diagnostic techno­logies”, Bowen said.

Bowen said there were potentially boundless oppor­tunities for quantum entangle­ment in technology. “Entangle­ment is set to revo­lutionize computing, communi­cation and sensing,” he said. Absolutely secure communi­cation was demonstrated some decades ago as the first demonstration of absolute quantum advantage over conventional techno­logies. “Computing faster than any possible conventional computer was demons­trated by Google two years ago, as the first demons­tration of absolute advantage in computing. “The last piece in the puzzle was sensing, and we've now closed that gap. This opens the door for some wide-ranging techno­logical revo­lutions”, Bowen explained. (Source: U. Queensland)

Reference: C. A. Casacio et al.: Quantum-enhanced nonlinear microscopy, Nature 594, 201 (2021); DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03528-w

Link: EQUS, ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia