Quantum Sensing A Lesser Known Technology–But Rapidly Approaching Marketplace

(ComputerWeekly) While the popular press might continue to focus on quantum computing, quantum sensing is a less known, but much broader area that is rapidly approaching the market.
Quantum sensing covers motion – including acceleration, rotation and gravity – electric and magnetic fields, and imaging. The benefits to quantum sensing include:
*Measuring electric and magnetic fields very accurately across many frequencies.
*Measuring physical quantities against atomic properties, so there is no drift or need to calibrate.
*Using quantum entanglement to improve sensitivity or precision.
Current navigation systems rely on GPS, which depends on a radio receiver that is quite easy to jam and mislead. The signals used by quantum navigation systems are very hard to fake because they are based on fundamental properties of nature. The result is a system that is secure against accidents, failures or malicious attacks.
Currently, MRI scanners generate 3D models of a brain that doctors use to diagnose, monitor and treat neurological diseases and physical traumas. They are expensive, large, noisy and need the patient to be perfectly still.
Quantum-enabled imaging will make smaller, portable systems possible. It will even be possible to create systems that can monitor the magnetic fields from patients’ brains as they go about their daily lives.

Click here for IQT’s report “Quantum Sensors Market, 2018 and Beyond” for a comprehensive look at this arena.