Quantum-enhanced benchtop nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer

Abstract:

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is the workhorse of modern molecular structural analysis with countless scientific applications, from materials science to drug discovery. Nevertheless, even the most modern NMR spectrometers still employ the same principles as 80 years ago, induction coils and high magnetic fields, making them bulky, expensive, and inaccessible to many potential users. However, a novel type of NMR sensor emerged recently from solid-state spin quantum systems: the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond, which has demonstrated unparalleled sensitivities in detecting NMR signals. In this proposal, we aim to significantly enhance the sensitivity of modern benchtop NMR spectrometers by several orders of magnitude. We will achieve this improvement by combining the NMR technology field with cutting-edge quantum sensing, employing improved NV-diamond materials, advanced microwave antennas, novel pulse sequences, and quantum control protocols. The goal is to achieve complete control and protection from the environmental noise of the NV-spin state, incorporating quantum memories and logical operations to reach radiofrequency sensitivities well beyond those of classical NMR sensors. The quantum-enhanced benchtop NMR spectrometer will be applied and validated in an analytical chemistry lab environment to demonstrate record sensitivities in molecular analysis enabled by quantum technology, with potential applications in quality control, environmental monitoring, medical diagnostics, online monitoring of chemical reactors, and materials discovery.

List of participants:

#	Participating Organisation Legal Name	Short Name	Country	Role
1	TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN	TUM	DE	Coordinator
2	UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBER	UPV/EHU	ES	Beneficiary
3	FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATION	TECNALIA	ES	AE
4	TECHNION – ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	TECHNION	IL	Beneficiary
5	FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV	FRAUNHOFER	DE	Beneficiary
6	MAGRITEK GMBH	MAGRITEK	DE	Beneficiary
7	AMIRES SRO	AMI	CZ	Beneficiary

Contacts:

PROJECT COORDINATOR: Dominik Bucher, TUM (dominik.bucher@tum.de)

PROJECT MANAGER: Jana Mwangi, AMIRES (mwangij@amires.eu)

The Quench project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe – The EU Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No 101135742.