Click the blue text above to follow us!According to the latest issue of Nature Communications, a research team led by the University of Washington has developed a quantum sensor that can operate stably under extreme conditions exceeding 30,000 times atmospheric pressure, achieving high-sensitivity measurements of material stress and magnetism. This is the first quantum sensor to successfully operate in such high-pressure environments, opening new avenues for exploring quantum effects in materials under extreme conditions.
The schematic shows a two-dimensional sensor being compressed between two diamond anvils.Image source: University of WashingtonThe team utilized a neutron beam to knock boron atoms out of boron nitride sheets, creating vacancies in the lattice. These vacancies can immediately capture electrons. Due to quantum-level interactions, the spin energy of the electrons changes based on magnetism, stress, temperature, and other properties of nearby materials. By tracking the spin of each electron, they can gain deep insights into the materials being studied at the quantum level.Previously, the team had developed quantum sensors based on diamond defects. However, because diamonds are three-dimensional structures, it is challenging to keep the sensor in close contact with the material being studied. In contrast, boron nitride sheets can be less than 100 nanometers thick, about one-thousandth the width of a human hair. This sensor is essentially embedded in two-dimensional materials, with a distance of less than 1 nanometer between the sensor and the material being measured, greatly enhancing signal resolution.In terms of device design, diamonds remain indispensable. The team created a “diamond anvil” consisting of two flat diamond surfaces, each about 400 micrometers wide, roughly equivalent to the width of four dust particles. These two surfaces are pressed together in a high-pressure chamber capable of generating extreme environments exceeding 30,000 times atmospheric pressure.Test results show that this new type of sensor can detect minute changes in the magnetic field of two-dimensional magnets, proving its stability and high sensitivity under high-pressure conditions.Additionally, the new sensor provides new opportunities for superconductivity research. It is known that superconductors typically require extremely low temperatures and high pressures to be maintained. In recent years, there has been ongoing controversy regarding room-temperature superconductors, and the team believes that this sensor can collect more accurate quantum detection data under high-pressure conditions, providing reliable evidence for related research.
Source: Science and Technology Daily Author: Zuo Changrui
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