
CHICAGO, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Theoretical researchers at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) at the University of Chicago (UChicago) have found a way to make quantum sensors exponentially more sensitive to detect and diagnose disease, predict volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, or explore underground without digging.
The researchers imagined creating a string of photonic cavities, where photons can be transported to adjacent cavities. Such a string could be used as a quantum sensor.
In systems like this, photons could dissipate: leak out of the cavities and disappear. But by harnessing a physics phenomenon called non-Hermitian dynamics, where dissipation leads to interesting consequences, the researchers were able to calculate that a string of these cavities would increase the sensitivity of the sensor much more than the number of cavities added. In fact, it would increase the sensitivity exponentially in system size.
Moreover, it would do so without using any extra energy and without increasing the inevitable noise from quantum fluctuations.
"This is the first example of a scheme like this - that by stringing these cavities together in the right way, we can gain an enormous amount of sensitivity," said Aashish Clerk, a theoretical physicist and co-author of the study.
To prove the theory, the researchers are building a network of superconducting circuits. These circuits could move photons between cavities in the same manner Clerk described in the research paper. That could create a sensor that could improve how quantum information is read out from quantum bits, or qubits.
The researchers also hope to examine how to construct analogous quantum sensing platforms by coupling spins instead of photonic cavities, with possible implementations based on arrays of quantum bits.
"We want to know if we can use this physics to improve all kinds of quantum sensors," Clerk said.
The results, posted on UChicago's website on Monday, have been published in Nature Communications.
Fire brigade in Shanghai holds group wedding
Tourists enjoy ice sculptures in Datan Town, north China
Sunset scenery of Dayan Pagoda in Xi'an
Tourists have fun at scenic spot in Nanlong Town, NW China
Harbin attracts tourists by making best use of ice in winter
In pics: FIS Alpine Ski Women's World Cup Slalom
Black-necked cranes rest at reservoir in Lhunzhub County, Lhasa
China's FAST telescope will be available to foreign scientists in April
"She power" plays indispensable role in poverty alleviation
Top 10 world news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 China news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 media buzzwords of 2020
Year-ender:10 major tourism stories of 2020
No interference in Venezuelan issues
Biz prepares for trade spat
Broadcasting Continent
Australia wins Chinese CEOs as US loses