The Governors of the University of Alberta

Published purpose

Quantum optical magnetometers (QOM) are leading candidates for expanding searches for new physics and magnetic sensing applications, e.g., resource exploration, nuclear magnetic resonance chemical analysis and magnetic resonance imaging. The Project will establish a new QOM approach by developing a novel powerful ultraviolet frequency comb laser that coherently addresses (via two-photon excitation) the quantum ground state in xenon-129, which boasts hours-long spin quantum coherence time at room temperature. This method is expected to greatly exceed state-of-the-art cryogenic magnetic sensing sensitivity. The team will develop a prototype, carry out demonstrations of quantum magnetic sensing, and develop foundational theory of quantum coherence dynamics towards quantum sensing beyond the standard quantum limit. Furthermore, the team will apply the experimental system to sensing of environmental xenon isotopes, which serves, e.g., water and natural resource management. The new tabletop system will have higher throughput and better sensitivity than existing methods relying on facility-scale instruments (accelerator mass spectrometers).