Quantum Sensing and Metrology

Quantum sensing consists in exploiting the strong sensitivity of quantum systems to external disturbances in order to precisely estimate a physical quantity of interest. More specifically, it implies the harnessing of quantum coherence and entanglement, which allows achieving precisions that are beyond the reach of classical systems and defined as quantum-limited sensing. In the last decades, quantum sensing has been physically implemented in a variety of physical platforms, ranging from atomic to solid-state systems, and has shown in some of these an immediate potential for practical applications. Further progress will require the optimization of quantum systems and materials, and a more efficient manipulation, storage, and readout of the quantum state.

At CNR Nano we investigate diverse approaches for the implementation of quantum sensing, based on the use of different degrees of freedom and different physical systems spanning from macroscale to nanoscale devices. We implement ultrasensitive radiation detectors based on superconducting/magnetic thin films, semiconducting nanowires, coherent nanodevices, and cryogenic calorimeters. We characterize the ultimate accuracy limits one can achieve in realistic scenarios, and develop algorithms that permit to approach such thresholds with applications in thermometry, sensing, and statistical inference. Theoretical estimation of the expected performance in term of sensitivities in practical application of quantum nanodevices is done for different types of platforms (superconductors and Josephson devices, topological materials, quantum dots, and photonic systems).

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