Topic

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Biotechnology OBJECTIVE: To develop quantum sensors that can detect chemical threats at low concentrations with high specificity. DESCRIPTION: Quantum sensing involves leveraging quantum behavior (spin state, superposition, entanglement) to interrogate the environment. CB sensors require distinguishing metrics and performance goals, including enhanced sensitivity and specificity against similar analytes, along with reduced size, weight, power, cost, and rapid readout. Challenges include design and synthesis of sensing materials, investigation and optimization of the sensing mechanism, miniaturization of devices, and complex operational environments. A quantum sensing approach is predicted to provide new solutions to these challenges by enabling us to observe and record quantum behaviors of material interactions (e.g., atomic spin, superposition, and entanglement). Quantum sensors can detect local perturbations at thresholds that are not feasible with traditional sensors. Despite recent substantial advancements in quantum sensing, problems such as scalability and difficulties in integrating with existing semiconductor technologies remain. Quantum effects require local coherence at the qubit level. Longer coherence dephasing times are needed along with lateral precision and inter-defect distances at nanometer resolution to effect efficient spin manipulation. A quantum sensor is characterized by discrete energy levels (Bloch sphere representation). A quantum sensor typically has quantized energy levels, uses quantum coherence to measure a physical quantity, or uses entanglement to improve measurements beyond what can be done with classical sensors. PHASE I: Evaluate the feasibility of utilizing a quantum sensor for chemical detection. Investigate hardware and software enhancements to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio, accelerate the speed, and improve the accuracy of chemical detection. Develop a design for a low-cost, compact quantum chemical detection system capable of detecting and accurately identifying chemical threats. Offers of market surveys will be considered non-responsive. Feasibility for scale-up fabrication considered value added. PHASE II: Assemble and showcase a functional prototype of the portable quantum chemical detection system following the Phase I design. Software and algorithms for detection, processing, and thresholding for potential presence of chemical threat should be integrated into the hardware threat chemicals at low concentrations. Demonstrate the ability of the new sensor to detect and identify hazardous chemicals. Deliver the operational prototype to the government for additional testing. Feasibility for scale-up fabrication considered value added. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: PHASE III: Further research and development during Phase III efforts will be directed toward refining the final deployable equipment and procedures. Manufacturability specific to U.S. Army CONOPS and end-user requirements will be examined. Continue research and development efforts with a focus on refining the deployable equipment and procedures. Any necessary design adjustments derived from Phase III test outcomes will be integrated into the system for its finalization. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Beyond DoD applications, the technology should have transitions into various applications beyond the detection of explosives, including drug analysis, medical imaging, food analysis, environmental monitoring, and material (polymers, ceramics, and superconductors) analysis. REFERENCES: 12. Chung-Jui Yu, Stephen Von Kugelgen, Daniel W. Laorenza, and Danna E. Freedman. "A molecular approach to quantum sensing." ACS central science 7, no. 5 (2021): 712-723. 13. Benjamin J. Lawrie, Paul D. Lett, Alberto M. Marino, and Raphael C. Pooser. "Quantum sensing with squeezed light." Acs Photonics 6, no. 6 (2019): 1307-1318. 14. Nicholas F. Chilton, "Molecular magnetism." Annual Review of Materials Research 52 (2022): 79-101. 15. Vibhas Chugh, Adreeja Basu, Ajeet Kaushik, and Aviru Kumar Basu. "Progression in quantum sensing/bio-sensing technologies for healthcare." ECS Sensors Plus 2, no. 1 (2023): 015001. 16. Giuseppe Falci, Pertti J. Hakonen, and Elisabetta Paladino. "1/f noise in quantum nanoscience." arXiv preprint arXiv:2401.11989 (2024). 17. Yu-Shuang Zhang, Yi-Fei Fan, Xing-Quan Tao, Geng-Yuan Li, Qing-Song Deng, Zheng Liu, Ye-Xin Wang, Song Gao, and ShangDa Jiang. "Potential Molecular Qubits of Long Coherence Time Constructed by Bromo-substituted Trityl Radicals." Journal of Materials Chemistry C (2024). 18. Das Saroj Kumar, Kavya K. Nayak, and P. R. Krishnaswamy. "Progression in quantum sensing/bio-sensing technologies for healthcare." Quantum 7 (2023): 9. KEYWORDS: Chemical detection, Threat Detection, Quantum Sensor, quantized energy levels, quantum coherence