Quantum sensing

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Measuring time, fields and motion with quantum precision.

What it is

Quantum sensors use the sensitivity of quantum states to measure time, gravity, magnetic fields, rotation and more with very high precision.

Atomic clocks are the best known example, and they already underpin satellite navigation and the internet.

How it works

In an atom interferometer an atom is placed in a superposition of two paths. The two paths are affected differently by gravity or acceleration, and when they are brought together again the difference appears as an interference pattern.

In clocks, the stable oscillation of atoms or ions acts as an extremely regular pendulum.

Try it: read a tiny force

A small difference between the two atom paths shifts the interference pattern. Move the slider to see the pattern move.

Force on the atom

Why it matters

Applications range from medical imaging with very sensitive magnetic sensors, to navigation without satellite signals, to finding underground structures and monitoring the climate.

Sensing is often the first quantum technology to reach the market, because useful devices need only a few qubits or none at all.

Europe’s position

Europe has world-leading metrology institutes and a strong industry in lasers and photonics, and the Quantum Flagship funds sensing projects on clocks, gravimeters, magnetometers and imaging.

237 EU-funded projects in quantum sensing and metrology, with an EU contribution of EUR 703 million (CORDIS; the pillar is suggested automatically and pending review).

On this site

Recent EU-funded projects in quantum sensing and metrology

Glossary

Interferometer: An instrument that compares two paths by letting them overlap.
Metrology: The science of measurement.
Atomic clock: A clock that counts the oscillations of atoms.
Quantum gravimeter: A sensor that measures gravity with interfering cold atoms, for example to find structures underground.