Nanoparticle and chemical sensors using optical microcavities

量子技术的发展产生了高精度的仪器和组件，可以受益于广泛的应用。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感知纳米粒子和化学物质。测量和分析流体中的化学物质和纳米级颗粒的能力对现代世界越来越重要。血液测试、筛选食品中的过敏原和污染物、开发治疗癌症的新药或测量建筑物和车辆中的空气质量，这些应用都需要对微量物质敏感的高性能传感器。与现有设备相比，“量子”谐振器在性能上提供了一个台阶变化。从牛津大学分离出来的一家新公司HighQ仪器有限公司正在成立，该公司既开发传感器，又向量子技术和光子学行业销售谐振器组件。这个Innovate UK项目将为纳米粒子传感器产品的第一个原型的构建提供支持，并为一个平行的研发项目提供支持，以推进该技术和开发一系列应用的化学传感器。

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.