Australian researchers say their tiny quantum sensor could make a big impact.

Local experts have developed a new two-dimensional quantum sensing chip using hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). 

The sensor is designed to detect both temperature anomalies and magnetic fields. 

It is particularly significant because it can measure magnetic fields in any direction, unlike traditional sensors that require precise alignment. 

Research detailed in Nature Communications reveals a sensor that is significantly thinner, more versatile, and cost-effective compared to current quantum technologies.

Traditional quantum sensors use diamond, which can only detect magnetic fields when perfectly aligned. This often requires multiple sensors and limits their use. 

In contrast, the new hBN-based sensor detects magnetic fields from any direction, offering greater flexibility and accuracy. 

“[It] has many advantages over diamond as a quantum light source for communications and sensing,” says chief investigator Igor Aharonovich from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS). 

The hBN material consists of atomically thin layers that are flexible, allowing the sensor to conform closely to the shape of the sample being studied, improving measurement accuracy. The research team also identified a new carbon-based defect within hBN that enables the sensor to measure both magnetic fields and temperature simultaneously, a feature not previously achieved with such thin materials.

Co-first author Priya Singh from RMIT University is particularly excited about using this new sensor in biological systems.

“Diamond spins have been used for over a decade in biological systems as an in-situ probe. I am eager to take our hBN into the continuously moving cellular environment, where the directional independence of the sensor would be an advantage,” she said. 

The sensor's potential applications extend beyond biology to fields like geological exploration, where accurate detection of magnetic features is crucial.

Moving forward, the team plans to identify the atomic structure of these defects to enhance the sensor’s performance further. 

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