CAREER: Solid-state quantum navigation and timekeeping

量子传感可以广泛地描述为使用量子系统和现象来测量其环境的物理属性。使用原子和离子的量子传感器已经导致了对加速度和旋转等惯性力的最精确的时钟和测量，这使得它们在导航系统中的潜在应用具有吸引力。然而，准备和测量原子和离子所需的硬件往往又大又复杂，这使得使这些传感器微型化以及在现实世界中保持高性能具有挑战性。该项目将开发基于固态量子系统的替代导航工具，可以绕过集成和微型化基于原子的传感器的一些困难。鉴于全球定位系统(GPS)的局限性，它容易受到信号障碍和干扰的影响，这些微型化和精确的量子传感器有可能提高平民在具有挑战性的地形中旅行的安全性，并使自动驾驶车辆更安全、更可靠。该项目的技术开发将与教育和外联活动一起进行，这些活动的重点是在量子和光学、电气工程和材料科学领域对本科生和研究生进行多学科培训，以及扩大来自不同背景的学生对量子研究的参与。这些活动将包括引入新的本科量子传感课程和开发适用于高中教育的课堂实验工具包。该项目旨在通过三项研究推动实现紧凑、可部署和自给自足的导航和计时系统：(1)利用钻石中的色心进行磁导航的宽带和稳定的矢量磁测量工程，通过与经过伴随优化设计的光子器件集成来提高灵敏度，以及通过同时测量互补特性来隔离感兴趣的矢量磁场。(2)基于固态自旋的加速度计和陀螺仪的演示，重点是提高自旋缺陷的稳定性和量子相干性，并实现能够实时消除影响惯性信号的不希望看到的背景(非惯性)扰动的组合算法。(3)探索碳化硅中磁性不灵敏的电子跃迁计时，最终目标是实现实用化、小型化、性能优于晶体振荡器的固态量子钟。这一推力将利用硅中的材料加工和器件制造技术来产生高质量的量子缺陷，以及结合从早期推力开发的技术来稳定时钟信号。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Quantum sensing can be broadly described as the use of quantum systems and phenomena to measure the physical properties of their environment. Quantum sensors using atoms and ions have led to the most precise clocks and measurements of inertial forces such as acceleration and rotation, which make them attractive for their potential use in navigation systems. However, the hardware needed to prepare and measure atoms and ions tend to be big and complex, making it challenging to miniaturize these sensors as well as maintain high performance in real-world settings. This project will develop alternative navigation tools based on solid-state quantum systems, which can circumvent some of the difficulties in integrating and miniaturizing atom-based sensors. Given the limitations of the Global Positioning System (GPS), which can be vulnerable to signal obstruction and interference, these miniaturized and accurate quantum sensors have the potential to improve the safety of civilians when traveling in challenging terrains and make autonomous vehicles safer and more reliable. The technical developments in the project will be conducted alongside education and outreach activities that focus on multidisciplinary training of undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of quantum and optical science, electrical engineering, and materials science, as well as broadening participation of students form diverse backgrounds in quantum research. These activities will include introduction of new undergraduate courses on quantum sensing and development of classroom lab kits for high-school education.This project aim to realize compact, deployable, and self-reliant navigation and timekeeping systems using quantum emitters in Group IV materials through three research thrusts: (1) Engineering of broadband and stable vector magnetometry using color centers in diamond for magnetic navigation, by enhancing sensitivity through integration with photonic devices designed with adjoint optimization and by conducting simultaneous measurements of complementary properties to isolate the vector magnetic field of interest. (2) Demonstration of accelerometers and gyroscopes based on solid-state spins, with emphasis on improving the stability and quantum coherence of spin defects and implementing combinatorial algorithms that enable real-time cancellation of undesired background (non-inertial) perturbations that affect the inertial signal. (3) Exploration of magnetically insensitive electron transitions in silicon carbide for timing, with the ultimate goal of realizing practical and miniaturized solid-state quantum clocks with superior performance to crystal oscillators. This thrust will leverage materials processing and device fabrication technologies in silicon to generate high-quality quantum defects, as well as combine techniques developed from earlier thrusts to stabilize the clock signal.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.