Quantum enhanced radio detection and ranging with solid spins

Abstract

The accurate radio frequency (RF) ranging and localizing of objects has benefited the researches including autonomous driving, the Internet of Things, and manufacturing. Quantum receivers have been proposed to detect the radio signal with ability that can outperform conventional measurement. As one of the most promising candidates, solid spin shows superior robustness, high spatial resolution and miniaturization. However, challenges arise from the moderate response to a high frequency RF signal. Here, by exploiting the coherent interaction between quantum sensor and RF field, we demonstrate quantum enhanced radio detection and ranging. The RF magnetic sensitivity is improved by three orders to 21 $${{{{{{{\rm{pT}}}}}}}}/\sqrt{{{{{{{{\rm{Hz}}}}}}}}}$$ pT / Hz , based on nanoscale quantum sensing and RF focusing. Further enhancing the response of spins to the target’s position through multi-photon excitation, a ranging accuracy of 16 μm is realized with a GHz RF signal. The results pave the way for exploring quantum enhanced radar and communications with solid spins.

Long-baseline quantum sensor network as dark matter haloscope

“…This notable sensitivity is at least three orders of magnitude better than the constraints from the Cosmic Microwave Background 31,32 . Promising sensors for dark photon detection in the higher frequency regime can be realized using nitrogen-vacancy center-based magnetometers that have recently shown ~10 pT/Hz 1/2 sensitivity in GHz microwave detection 49,50 . For uncovering lower masses within the range of mHz to Hz, one can use noble-gas spin masers 51,52 that have high sensitivity in the Hz range or install magnetometers on a stable rotating table, which up-converts the low-frequency DPDM-induced field to a higher frequency.…”

Directivity of Radiating Quantum Source Systems

“…Directive quantum source systems (QSSs), for example quantum antennas and quantum sensors [1]- [7], are important elements of quantum information processing systems and are currently investigated for numerous applications ranging from sensing and tomography to nanoelectronics, quantum plasmonics, and quantum information transmission and reception [8]- [19]. For information transmission, a quantum source system is expected to be able to direct energy, i.e., quantized radiation particles in this case, toward specific directions, while suppressing transmission (and sometimes reception) along other directions.…”