Quantum enabled magnetic anomaly detection for military surveillance and quality assurance - I2I phase I project

磁异常是由磁性物体引起的地球磁场的轻微扰动。磁异常探测(MAD)被用于军事武器探测和采矿业勘探大型地下或水下铁磁性矿床。领先的商用MAD探测器昂贵、笨重、耗电，而且需要温度补偿，这极大地限制了它们的使用。舍布鲁克大学的一组物理学家和工程师目前正在研究一种基于量子效应的颠覆性MAD传感器技术。他们的量子MAD传感器(QMADS)的基本单元是钻石中的原子缺陷，其量子特性对磁异常极其敏感。这个I2I项目旨在利用舍布鲁克大学的专有QMADS技术提供一种低成本、可靠、更高效的MAD探测器。在改进了已经具备功能的QMADS原型之后，性能测试将在受控的实验室环境中进行，然后在现场与加拿大国家研究委员会合作进行。在本项目结束时，将充分验证该技术是否能够满足市场对远程MAD探测(军队、地质)的需求。该项目还将揭示短程检测的潜力，并将其应用于微电子、公共工程等领域的质量控制。与商业MAD探测器不同，QMADS满足无人机上自主MAD传感的所有要求。配备QMADS的无人机将允许对大片领土进行勘测，以帮助检测和防止停电和漏油等情况。

Magnetic anomalies are slight perturbations of Earth's magnetic field induced by magnetic objects. Magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) is used by the military for weapon detection and the mining industry for prospecting large underground or underwater ferromagnetic deposits. The leading commercial MAD detectors are expensive, bulky, power hungry, and require temperature compensation, drastically restricting their use. A team of physicists and engineers at the Université de Sherbrooke is currently working on a disruptive MAD sensor technology based on quantum effects. The fundamental unit of their quantum MAD sensor (QMADS) is an atomic defect in diamond whose quantum properties are extremely sensitive to magnetic anomalies.This I2I project aims to provide a low-cost, reliable, more efficient MAD detector using Université de Sherbrooke's proprietary QMADS technology. After refining the already functional QMADS prototype, performances tests will be conducted in a controlled laboratory environment and, then, on the field, in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada. At the end of this project, it will be fully validated if the technology can meet the market needs for long range MAD detection (army, geology). The project will also reveal the potential for short range detection with applications in quality control in microelectronics, public works, etc.Unlike commercial MAD detectors, QMADS fulfill all the requirements for autonomous MAD sensing aboard drones. QMADS-equipped drones would allow surveying of large territories to help detect and prevent, for instance, power outages and oil spills.