Flawed Diamonds Make Perfect Quantum Sensors

Quantum sensors take the biggest roadblock for quantum computers—unwanted interference, or noise—and turn it into a strength. Noise wrecks quantum computers because the quantum states they use for computation are affected by the slightest disturbances from the environment. But quantum sensors use those disturbances to detect minuscule changes in magnetic and electric fields. Amanda Stein, the CEO of Quantum Catalyzer (Q-Cat), is working to find meaningful markets for sensors based on quantum defects in diamond. IEEE Spectrumspoke with her about the challenges in doing so. Amanda Stein Amanda Stein is the CEO of Quantum Catalyzer (Q-Cat), a startup founded in 2020 to explore and incubate quantum tech companies. How can defects in diamonds be used as sensors? Amanda Stein: Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers are defects in specially grown diamonds where neighboring carbon atoms in the crystal lattice have been replaced by a nitrogen atom and a vacancy—a missing carbon atom. The NV defect a ... Read full article.