The Quantum Nano Science Center (QNS) at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea, in collaboration with the Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany, has developed the world’s first atomic-scale quantum sensor capable of detecting minute magnetic fields at the atomic level. The groundbreaking research was published on the 25th in Nature Nanotechnology. This achievement marks a significant milestone in quantum technology and is expected to have profound implications across multiple scientific fields.
The research team achieved unprecedented sensitivity and spatial resolution by attaching a molecule to the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope. Observing and precisely measuring physical quantities such as electric and magnetic fields generated by individual atoms is extremely challenging due to their minuscule size—atoms are 1 million times thinner than a human hair. Conventional quantum sensors can detect electric and magnetic fields but achieving atomic-scale spatial resolution has been a significant challenge.
The success of this atomic-scale quantum sensor lies in its use of a single molecule, offering a conceptual shift from traditional sensing methods. Unlike most sensors that rely on lattice defects, which reveal their properties only when deeply embedded in materials, this new approach utilizes a single molecule to detect atomic electromagnetic properties. This molecule is positioned at just a few atoms away from the target object, enabling unprecedented precision.
This pioneering tool sets a new standard for spatial resolution in quantum sensors, akin to how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revolutionized material imaging. With a spatial resolution of up to 0.1 angstroms—where 1 angstrom is approximately the diameter of an atom—this sensor opens new avenues for research in quantum materials and device engineering, novel catalyst design, and the fundamental quantum behaviors of molecular systems, including biochemical interactions.
