Cited by 4,045Quantum Information and CryptographyQuantum Mechanics and ApplicationsQuantum Computing Algorithms and Architecture

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 392 of the 392 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 207 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Quantum sensing

Open access
Degen, C. L., Reinhard, F., Cappellaro, P.·2017·Reviews of Modern Physics

Abstract

Quantum technologies are increasingly driving the field of precision metrology. While current techniques for sensing and recording time rely on classical devices, quantum sensors exploit quantum systems to reach unprecedented levels of precision. The working part of the sensor contains one or a few qubits, and resources like quantum entanglement are chosen and tailored to maximize sensitivity. This review introduces quantum sensing from the perspective of working experimentalists, with specific sensor implementations, concepts and methods, and recent developments.

Overview

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Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review introduces quantum sensing as the use of quantum systems, coherence, or entanglement to measure physical quantities, focusing on qubit-based sensors and practical protocols. It synthesizes definitions, experimental platforms, sensing sequences, sensitivity limits, noise spectroscopy, adaptive methods, and entanglement-enhanced approaches.

Key findings

  • Quantum sensing is defined by three uses: a quantum object to measure a quantity, quantum coherence for measurement, and entanglement to improve sensitivity beyond classical limits; a useful quantum sensor needs discrete levels, initialization/readout, coherent manipulation, and coupling to a signal \(V(t)\).
  • The basic protocol is initialization, interaction with the signal, readout, and estimation; Ramsey and Rabi measurements illustrate static and resonant detection, while slope detection operates at \(p_0=0.5\) and variance detection at \(p_0=0\) or \(1\). Sensitivity improves with larger coupling \(\gamma\) and longer decoherence/relaxation time \(T_\chi\), with optimum sensing time near \(t \approx T_\chi\).
  • Reported sensitivities include atomic vapor magnetometers at \(100\ \mathrm{aT}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}\) approaching \(<10\ \mathrm{aT}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}\), SQUIDs down to \(10\ \mathrm{aT}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}\), trapped ions at \(4.6\ \mathrm{pT}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}\), NV ensembles currently limited to \(\sim 1\ \mathrm{pT}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}\), and superconducting qubit magnetic sensing at \(3.3\ \mathrm{pT}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}\) at 10 MHz.
  • Advanced methods include multipulse AC sensing with CP/PDD sequences, noise spectroscopy via filter functions and relaxometry, adaptive phase estimation achieving dynamic range scaling \(DR \propto T\), and entangled GHZ/N00N/squeezed states that can reach Heisenberg-limited sensitivity but often lose their advantage due to increased decoherence.

Methods

  • This is a review article, not a primary experimental or theoretical study; it synthesizes principles, methods, and concepts of quantum sensing from an experimentalist’s viewpoint.
  • It surveys implementations including neutral atoms, trapped ions, Rydberg atoms, atomic clocks, solid-state spins, superconducting circuits, elementary particle qubits, single electron transistors, optomechanics, and photons.
  • The main analysis uses Hamiltonian formalism, Ramsey/Rabi examples, filter functions, the quantum Cramér-Rao bound, and summary tables of sensor implementations and symbols.

Limitations

  • Paper-stated: the review mostly considers qubits, does not cover implementations in specific detail, excludes atomic clocks and photon-based sensors, and treats theory only up to the point needed to introduce key concepts.
  • Paper-stated: entanglement-enhanced sensing is limited because GHZ states suffer faster decoherence, and N00N states are fragile and have small dynamic range.
  • Evident from the text: as a review, it reports no primary data, and its numerical sensitivities are drawn from cited prior work; many equations appear as “formula-not-decoded” in the supplied text, so exact expressions cannot be verified from this text alone.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1103/revmodphys.89.035002

Cites

392 of 392 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

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Verification

Claims the paper makes

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Show all 154 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 91
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 101
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 3
169 of 169
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Quantum sensing has become a distinct and rapidly growing branch of research within quantum science and technology, with the most common platforms being spin qubits, trapped ions and flux qubits.

    “More recently, quantum sensing has become a distinct and rapidly growing branch of research within the area of quantum science and technology, with the most common platforms being spin qubits, trapped ions and flux qubits.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Quantum sensors according to definitions I and II are often close to applications.

    “However, since quantum sensors according to definitions I and II are often close to applications, we will mostly focus on these definitions and discuss them extensively in this review.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In most situations the coupling between a quantum sensor and an external parameter is either linear or quadratic.

    “In most situations the coupling is either linear ( q = 1) or quadratic ( q = 2).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Charged systems, like trapped ions, are sensitive to electrical fields, while spin-based systems mainly respond to magnetic fields.

    “Charged systems, like trapped ions, will be sensitive to electrical fields, while spin-based systems will mainly respond to magnetic fields.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The quantum sensor can be described by the generic Hamiltonian H = H0 + HV(t) + Hcontrol(t).

    “For the following discussion, we will assume that the quantum sensor can be described by the generic Hamiltonian”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    H0 is known and Hcontrol(t) can be deliberately chosen so as to manipulate or tune the sensor in a controlled way.

    “We will assume that ˆ H 0 is known and that ˆ H control ( t ) can be deliberately chosen so as to manipulate or tune the sensor in a controlled way.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The signal is weak.

    “When the signal is weak (which is assumed here) ˆ H V ( t ) adds a small perturbation to ˆ H 0 .”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The initialization basis {|0〉,|1〉} and the readout basis {|0'〉,|1'〉} are the same and U_b = U_a†.

    “For simplicity we assume that the initialization basis {| 0 〉 , | 1 〉} and the readout basis {| 0 ′ 〉 , | 1 ′ 〉} are the same and that ˆ U b = ˆ U † a , but this is not required.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The readout is projective.

    “We assume that the readout is projective, although more general positive-operator-valuedmeasure (POVM) measurements may be possible (Nielsen and Chuang, 2000).”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    β = 1.

    “Since β is a constant of time, we will assume β = 1 in the following for reasons of simplicity.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The signal is composed of one or a few harmonic tones in Section VI.

    “In this Section VI, we will assume that the signal is composed of one or a few harmonic tones and our goal will be to determine the signal's amplitude, frequency, phase or overall waveform.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The AC signal goes through exactly one period of oscillation during the sensing time t.

    “To illustrate this, we assume that the AC signal goes through exactly one period of oscillation during the sensing time t .”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The sensor is sampled over time at constant intervals t_s for the Allan variance.

    “Assuming that the sensor is sampled over time at constant intervals t s yielding the signal x j = x ( t j ) = x ( jt s ), the Allan variance is defined as”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The estimation procedure is asymptotically locally unbiased for the Cramér-Rao bound.

    “Assuming that the estimation procedure is asymptotically locally unbiased, ∆ V N obeys the so-called Cram´ er-Rao bound”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    A projective measurement in the σ_x basis is performed for the Fisher information.

    “If we assume to perform a projective measurement in the σ x basis, {|±〉} = { 1 √ 2 ( | 0 〉±| 1 〉 ), giving the outcome probabilities p ( x ± | V ) = 〈±| ρ ( V ) |±〉 , the Fisher information is”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    t_m ≪ t for the exact optimum solution in slope detection.

    “Assuming t m ≪ t , we can find an exact optimum solution with respect to t .”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Signals are static and deterministic in the earlier sections.

    “So far we have implicitly assumed that signals are static and deterministic.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The stochastic signal V(t) is Gaussian.

    “For the following analysis we will assume that the stochastic signal V ( t ) is Gaussian.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The autocorrelation function of V(t) decays on a time scale t_c shorter than the sensing time t, such that successive averaging measurements are not correlated.

    “decays on a time scale t c that is shorter than the sensing time t , such that successive averaging measurements are not correlated.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The noise is Gaussian and stationary.

    “Under the assumption of a Gaussian, stationary noise, the loss of coherence can be captured by an exponential decay of the transition probability with time t ,”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The control sequence has a modulation function y(t).

    “Assuming the control sequence has a modulation function y ( t ) (see Section VI.C), the decay function is determined by the correlation integral”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The noise process is approximately Markovian.

    “The basic assumptions are that the noise process is approximately Markovian and that the noise strength is weak, such that first-order perturbation theory is valid.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The noise strength is weak, such that first-order perturbation theory is valid.

    “The basic assumptions are that the noise process is approximately Markovian and that the noise strength is weak, such that first-order perturbation theory is valid.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The noise strength is typically much weaker than the noise fluctuation rate.

    “Since the noise strength is typically much weaker than the noise fluctuation rate, the correction steps can be performed at a much slower rate compared to dynamical decoupling.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Quantum sensors based on SQUID magnetometers and atomic vapors are already in everyday use and are the most sensitive magnetic field detectors currently available.

    “In fact, quantum sensors based on SQUID magnetometers and atomic vapors are already in everyday use, and have installed themselves as the most sensitive magnetic field detectors currently available.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Atomic clocks have become the ultimate standard in time keeping and frequency generation.

    “Likewise, atomic clocks have become the ultimate standard in time keeping and frequency generation.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    NV centers in diamond have started conquering many applications in nanoscale imaging due to their small size.

    “Notably, NV centers in diamond have started conquering many applications in nanoscale imaging due to their small size.”
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  • Continuous sampling cites the wrong figure panel

    Minor

    The text points to Fig. 8(b) for continuous sampling, but the caption labels panel (b) as the correlation sequence and panel (c) as continuous sampling.

  • Single-ion clock record conflicts with listed uncertainties

    Minor

    The passage says single-ion clocks hold the accuracy record, but its listed uncertainty for the strontium ensemble clock is smaller than that for the single-ion ytterbium clock. On the passage's own comparison, the ensemble clock is more accurate.

2 of 2

Citations

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Livanov, M., 1978, Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR, 238, 253
  2. van der Sar, T., 2015, Nat. Commun., 6

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Metadata

Authors
Degen, C. L., Reinhard, F., & Cappellaro, P.
Affiliations
ETH Zurich (CH)
Venue
Reviews of Modern Physics
Published
2017-07-25
Volume
89
Issue
3
ISSN
  • 0034-6861 (ISSN-L)
  • 1539-0756
OpenAlex
W3037447387
Cited by
4,045
References
392
Citations by year
2026: 601 · 2025: 827 · 2024: 641 · 2023: 473 · 2022: 425 · 2021: 378 · 2020: 307 · 2019: 236 · 2018: 130 · 2017: 25
FWCI
113.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Reviews of Modern Physics (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
  • European Commission (611143)
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (RE 3606/1-1)
  • Army Research Office (W911NF-11-1-0400, W911NF-15-1-0548)
  • National Science Foundation (PHY0551153, PHY1415345)
  • Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH-03 16-1)
  • Swiss National Science Foundation (200021_137520, NCCR QSIT)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Quantum Information and Cryptography
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Quantum Mechanics and Applications
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Quantum Computing Algorithms and Architecture
Keywords
quantum sensing, quantum sensors, precision metrology, qubits, quantum entanglement, quantum-enhanced sensitivity, timekeeping, sensor implementation

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