Quantum Leap: The Brink of Sensors Revolution

The potential benefits of quantum sensors for neuroscience include the ability to study neural activity at the single-neuron level, to map neural circuits in unprecedented detail and to track the dynamics of brain activity over time.

Quantum, neuroscience

Quantum computer is not the only place quantum physics develops with the latest research discoveries. In a hospital in Toronto, Canada, a neuroscience researcher is scanning the brain of a young children with the help of quantum technology to see into their brain. With the help of a device called quantum brain scanner, fitted with a scanner full of sensors that use quantum physics to detect brain activity, the researcher scans the brain of a 4 year old. In the while the quantum sensors brain helmet pick up the electromagnetic fields generated by the brain billions of fired neurons. That been said that is a real time brain scanner on a computer screen.

Brain Scanning Activity

Thanks to quantum sensors, it is now possible to observe the brain function and activity of children in real-time. This research in Canada is a prime example of the real-world impact of quantum applications. Despite years of research on autism, there is still much we don't understand about the condition. We know that it develops in childhood and has a genetic component. For years, researchers have known that certain patterns of brain activity are associated with autism. These patterns can even be observed in young children before the condition manifests.

Traditional brain scanners are not suitable for use with children as they are large and require the subject to remain perfectly still and behave in a specific way for accurate results. This made it nearly impossible to obtain good data on children's brain activity. However, recent developments in quantum technology have changed this. New brain scanning technology using quantum physics has been developed by major tech companies and research over the past decade has led to significant advancements.

A special type of PET scan used for imaging the brains of patients with Parkinson

This could allow PET scans to provide much more detailed information about brain function than is currently possible.

A new generation of quantum devices and sensors has emerged, fundamentally changing what we can do. These sensors are closer to the head and can pick up signals from the brain even if the person being scanned moves around. One of the biggest advantages is that the sensors are incorporated into a helmet, allowing for brain scans even when the subject has difficulty staying still.

Other use cases

Quantum sensors are a practical application of our knowledge of quantum physics. They have been developed for a wide range of uses, including measuring changes deep underground, improving navigation systems, enabling driverless cars and building the world's most accurate clocks.

Unlike quantum computing, the benefits of quantum sensors are already being realized today. In fact, they are already being used in brain scanning technology and other applications. Despite the hype surrounding quantum computers, it is important to recognize the significant contributions of other areas of quantum technology.

What are Quantum Sensors?

Quantum sensors operate in various ways and capitalize on the extreme sensitivity of quantum particles to their surroundings. Even slight disturbances from heat, electromagnetic waves or light can disrupt the fragile state of qubits and hinder the operation of a computer. However, quantum sensors turn this weakness into a strength by utilizing the sensitivity of quantum particles to detect changes in the environment with remarkable precision and accuracy. For instance, quantum brain scanners measure minuscule variations in the brain's electromagnetic fields to monitor brain activity.

A type of quantum sensor, such as a superconducting qubit or a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center

Quantum particles are also sensitive to other minor environmental changes, which opens up possibilities for additional applications. One such application is the development of improved guidance systems that use quantum particles attuned to the magnetic field of the environment. Another intriguing use for quantum sensors is detecting minute changes in gravity caused by underground movements on Earth.

Gravity Detecting Sensors

The next generation of sensors will allow us to use atoms to observe the world and its changes. With climate change being a pressing issue, quantum sensors can help us understand the rate at which the world is changing and express the urgency to change. Quantum detecting sensors could help us better understand how and how fast the world is changing. With these sensors, we have eyes underground and are able to see very accurately changes in the earth and how large masses of earth get cracked over time due to climate change.

Torsion pendulums sensors - made of a long, thin rod that is suspended from a pivot. The rod is twisted by the force of gravity and this twist can be measured to determine the strength of gravity

Commercial Infrastructure

Infrastructure is now designed to move and contract according to the environment it sits in. For example, during winter when surfaces sink and move due to wet soil, or during summer when it dries out. Understanding how the track moves and changes would allow us to build much larger and more intelligent infrastructure. This could eventually lead us to mega smart infrastructure. Quantum sensors technology can provide much more detailed information about the world around us than we had before. Accessing this information could be a game changer for industries and society as a whole.

Design of infrastructure to move up and down as the ground beneath it sinks and swells

Image of a bridge that illustrates the concept of infrastructure that moves and contracts according to the environment it sits in.

The Bottom Line

Quantum sensors are poised to revolutionize neuroscience. By providing unprecedented levels of sensitivity and precision, quantum sensors can be used to study the brain in ways that were previously impossible. This has the potential to lead to new insights into the workings of the brain, as well as new treatments for neurological disorders. The field of quantum neuroscience is still in its early stages, but it is rapidly growing.

As quantum sensors become more sophisticated, we can expect to see even more groundbreaking advances in the years to come. This could lead to a new era of understanding the brain and its disorders, and to the development of new and more effective treatments. The future of neuroscience is quantum. With the help of quantum sensors, we can finally begin to unlock the mysteries of the brain. This is a truly exciting time to be a neuroscientist and the possibilities are endless.

References

November 2018 Quantum Studies Mathematics and Foundations 6(4)

DOI:10.1007/s40509-018-0175-9

Angelo Pantazis - Rion-Antirion Bridge, Greece

Aldebaran S - The Rosette nebula Quantum in the Hubble palette

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