QMag

The resolution and the sensitivity of today’s magnetometers is insufficient for many future applications. The goal of the Fraunhofer consortium »QMag« is to further develop magnetometers and to test them for applications. Two different magnetometer principles based on quantum technology concepts will be used:

On the one hand, nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond will be used, which function as the smallest scanning magnets in an imaging scanning probe magnetometer. This turns a single atomic system into a highly sensitive sensor that can already be operated at room temperature. On the other hand, an alternative measuring method is used that exploits the magnetic field dependence of the optical properties of alkali atoms (»optically pumped alkali magnetometers«, OPM).

Based on prototypes of such magnetometers, application-specific, cost-effective, complete measuring systems are to be developed. The two measuring methods are complementary with regard to highest spatial resolution and extreme sensitivity, so that different new applications can be developed as a result. With such novel quantum magnetometers, micro- and nanoelectronic components, for example, can be non-destructively tested and then optimized. Even individual bits in storage media could be visualized. In addition, we want to test and establish process nuclear magnetic resonance for chemical process analysis as well as scattered magnetic field measurement for contactless material testing.

Details

NAME

QMag - Quantum Magnetometry

PROJECT TYPE

Fraunhofer Lighthouse project

DURATION

2019 - 2023

COORDINATOR

Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Phyics IAF,

Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Quay

PROJECT PARTNERS

  • Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM
  • Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM
  • Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology IISB
  • Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems IMM
  • Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics CAP, UK Research Limited

FUNDING SOURCE

  • Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
  • State of Baden-Wuerttemberg

in equal shares

BUDGET

€ 10 million

GOAL

Development of two complementary quantum magnetometers to measure smallest magnetic fields with high resolution and high sensitivity at room temperature
Funded by Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Funded by Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism Baden-Württemberg
Funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism Baden-Württemberg