Researchers at MIT have fabricated a diamond - based quantum sensor on a silicon chip in a way that could cut costs for quantum computing , instrumentation and communication . It uses defects in diamonds , called nitrogen - vacancy ( NV ) centres , which can be controlled with light and microwaves . The researchers incorporated components including a microwave generator , an optical amplifier and a photodetector using conventional methods , but at a fraction of the size of existing quantum sensors . The device can detect a magnetic field ’s strength and direction , and could be used to map electrical impulses in the brain or detect objects outside of a space - line .
Researchers at MIT have developed a diamond-based quantum sensor on a silicon chip in a move that could cut costs for quantum computing, sensing and communication. It uses defects in diamonds, called nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres, which can be controlled with light and microwaves. The researchers incorporated components including a microwave generator, an optical filter and a photodetector using conventional methods, but at a fraction of the size of existing NV sensors. The device can detect a magnetic field’s strength and direction, and could be used to map electrical impulses in the brain or detect objects outside of a sight-line.