To promote the use of quantum sensors in industry, Fraunhofer IAF has developed a virtual application laboratory for quantum sensing. This innovative information platform provides comprehensive technical knowledge about quantum magnetometers, applications, and measurement scenarios. It also allows interested parties from industry and research to interactively perform sample measurements and assess the potential of this groundbreaking technology for their needs.

Quantum sensors enable extremely precise measurements and offer enormous potential, especially in materials testing, the semiconductor industry, and biomedicine. The virtual application lab provides an overview of the quantum sensors used at Fraunhofer IAF and their possible applications. It features three quantum magnetometers and offers detailed technical information and explanations of the different measurement principles of the devices. The core of the application lab are interactive measurements that showcase measurement scenarios from the fields of materials testing, micro and nanoelectronics, and biomedicine.

For each sector, users can run through several measurement scenarios, retrieve individual results, or get an overall evaluation. Whether it’s nanoparticles in biological tissue, crack formations in metallic samples, or magnetic fields in microelectronic circuits – quantum magnetometers can visualize magnetic field distributions at the smallest level and provide relevant information about the samples. Access is available through the website quantensensing.de.

In addition, the IAF has established a physical application laboratory for quantum sensing at the institute’s location in Freiburg, Germany. Interested companies, SMEs, and start-ups can conduct magnetic field measurements with their own samples on site and test the use of quantum magnetometers for their applications. The Fraunhofer institute uses quantum magnetometers based on nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. These single atomic systems act as highly sensitive magnetic field sensors, can operate at room temperature and in background fields, and enable extremely high spatial resolution. These properties make quantum magnetometers ideal for industrial applications.

Further reading: Detecting smallest material defects at an early stage, wileyindustrynews.com, 30 January 2024 • “Milestone in quantum sensor technology”, wileyindustrynews.com, 07 June 2022