From color centers in diamonds to biomedical quantum sensing

The laws of quantum physics allow for the description of phenomena that may be counterintuitive with respect to our daily experience. For example, in quantum physics it is possible that a single particle can be at two locations at the same time, a property known as superposition. Multiple particles can also share strong correlations fundamentally linking the outcome of a measurement although the particles may be separated by a long distance, a phenomenon Einstein called 'spooky action at a distance' and known as entanglement. Despite fundamental physics, the properties of superposition and entanglement may be explored for practical applications such as sensing, achieving measurement precisions that are not reachable using classical sensing approaches.

In recent years, color centers in diamonds have appeared as a promising platform for quantum sensing. This is owing to the unique material properties of diamond, that these color centers possess quantum mechanical properties with optical control and readout even at room temperature and standard pressure. In this talk, Alexander Huck will focus on the fundamentals of quantum sensing and how color centers in diamond may be used for sensing of biological systems such molecules, cells or neuronal activity in the brain. 

Picture text: Setup and sample chamber with slice of brain tissue