Nanoparticle and chemical sensors using optical microcavities

量子技术的发展产生了高精度的仪器和部件，可以造福于广泛的应用。在这个项目中，我们使用为量子通信和计算开发的微型光学谐振器来检测纳米颗粒和化学物质。测量和分析流体中的化学物质和纳米颗粒的能力对现代世界越来越重要。血液测试、筛选食物中的过敏原和污染物、开发治疗癌症的新药，或者测量建筑物和车辆中的空气质量，都是需要高性能传感器对微量材料敏感的应用。与现有设备相比，量子谐振器在性能上有了很大的变化。牛津大学的一家新的衍生公司HighQ Instruments Ltd正在成立，该公司将开发传感器，并向量子技术和光电子行业销售谐振器组件。这个创新英国项目将为纳米颗粒传感器产品的第一个原型的建造提供支持，并为一个平行的研发计划提供支持，以促进技术进步和为一系列应用开发化学传感器。

The development of quantum technologies produces high precision instrumentation and components that can benefit a wide range of applications. In this project we use miniature optical resonators, developed for quantum communications and computing, to sense nanoparticles and chemicals. The ability to measure and analyse chemicals and nanoscale particles in fluids is of increasing importance to the modern world. Blood tests, screening for allergens and contaminants in food, developing new medicines for cancer treatment, or measuring air quality in buildings and vehicles are all applications for which high performance sensors are required with sensitivity to minute quantities of material. The ‘quantum’ resonators offer a step change in performance compared to existing devices. A new spin-out company from the University of Oxford, HighQ Instruments Ltd, is being set up both to develop the sensors and to market resonator components to the quantum technologies and photonics industries. This Innovate UK project will provide support for the construction of the first prototype for a nanoparticle sensor product, and for a parallel R&D programme to advance the technology and develop chemical sensors for a range of applications.