Frontiers of Sensing in the Quantum Regime with Atomic, Solid-State and Photonic Systems

Many of the most sensitive devices ever built for the measurement of fields, forces, and time are being developed right now in quantum science laboratories around the world. This meeting will bring together quantum scientists, experts in sensing technology, and industrial leaders, placing a spotlight on the development of quantum sensors on their path from laboratory experiments to real-world applications. Quantum sensors make use of the notorious fragility of quantum states, turning it into an asset for probing fluctuations in magnetic or electric fields, to measure acceleration and gravity, and even to track the passage of time. Building upon decades of pioneering achievements with classical and quantum-enabled sensing and measurement technologies, including superconducting quantum interference devices, electron spin resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, atomic force and electron-based microscopy techniques, a new generation of quantum sensors is now emerging: Prime examples include the nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond, numerous inclusions in silicon carbide, as well as neutral atoms, ions and photonic systems. NV centers are finding first commercial applications, for example in tip-based sensing and in the biomedical sector, while atomic sensors are at the leading edge of efforts to map gravitational fields and as time standards. Recently, quantum clocks based on trapped ions have reached the highest precision in timekeeping. Photonic quantum sensing has potential applications in environmental ranging and bio-imaging, and has already been implemented successfully for improvements in the detection of gravitational waves.

Following two highly successful GRC Quantum Sensing meetings in Hong Kong, in this third event of the series we will broaden the horizon of the meeting further with the aim of building bridges between the communities of sensing, measurement and metrology, in order to establish the role of quantum sensors within this broader landscape. We therefore aim to attract first-line researchers and users of quantum sensors, experts on the best available sensing technology, and leaders of industrial sensor production.