Advancing the market uptake of diamond defects quantum sensors

Project Information

AMADEUS

Grant agreement ID: 101080136

DOI

10.3030/101080136

Project closed

EC signature date 25 August 2022

Start date 1 October 2022

End date 31 March 2026

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 7 123 760,56

EU contribution

€ 6 016 720,63

Coordinated by

THALES
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AMADEUS (Advancing the market uptake of diamond defects quantum sensors)

Reporting period: 2022-10-01 to 2024-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

AMADEUS is an industry-oriented consortium that prepares the market uptake of quantum sensors exploiting NV centres in ultrapure diamond, one of the most promising and market-ready technology of quantum sensing. AMADEUS capitalises on the previous ASTERIQS project that developed this technology to TRL 4-5 in the ramp-up phase of the Quantum Flagship. Four advanced applications are being pursued to TRL 6-7 to answer societal and economical needs where no solution exists yet:
• Provide a real-time cartography of the RF signal frequencies in 5G communication cellular networks, and further on future 6G, enabling self-optimizing networks in dense area, thus increasing the number of communications and lowering the energy consumption.
• Provide a tool to the semiconductor industry to analyse the defects in microelectronics circuits at room temperature and in standard environment in order to increase the throughput and lower the cost production.
• Enable monitoring the muscle and brain activity as novel medical diagnostic tool or as brain-machine interface in the future.
• Use monitoring of the magnetic field as a multipurpose tool in harsh environment for space applications or for monitoring of the transient currents in electric car batteries.
The consortium involves large companies, RTO’s, SME’s and academic partners. It addresses the whole value chain, from the diamond material supply to the system working in an operational environment, along which the workplan is organised. The partners produce the material and the components that are assembled in operational systems and disseminate the results towards large audiences including end-users. Key actions are taken to support the transfer to market. In collaboration with major European metrology institutes, AMADEUS contributes to the standardisation and certification of quantum technology. Consequently, AMADEUS will reinforce the European quantum industry for the benefit of Europe’s economy and citizens.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

WP1 is dedicated to the development of material and technologies for the quantum sensor applications in other WPs dealing with the development of the applications (WP2 & WP3). CVD growth processes and preparation for NV doped and ultra-pure diamond with different crystal orientation were developed. Processes are already achieved and are further developed for individual applications. Thorough studies of the effect of surface termination and preparation on the created NV centers was started and is ongoing. NV-doped diamonds with different crystal orientations and doping concentrations were grown and their performances evaluated. This will continue for the remainder of the project.
The goal of WP2 is to develop and realise high-tech components, specific to diamond NV centre sensors, enabling their integration and assembling to concrete devices in WP3. Various components such as laser diode driver, voltage controlled oscillator, trans-impedance oscillator, stable microwave generator and controller have been designed, simulated and fabricated and are ready for the laboratory test before integration into a compact platform. A 4-magnet configuration was used to control independently the set-point and frequency bandwidth of the NV spectrum analyser. Various type of modulations and lock-in amplification with amplitude modulation were tested successfully. Microwave antennas allowing an efficient coupling of the radiofrequency field and the NV centers over large bandwidths have been designed and tested. Graphene electrodes were implanted directly on the surface of diamond crystals with a focused ion beam to allow direct measurement of photoelectric currents without the need of an amplifier.
WP3 is dedicated to the integration of the components and sensors developed in WP2 into functional systems. We have developed a compact spectrum analyser tested outside of the laboratory to measure GSM signals. A widefield-Imager for defect analysis of electronic circuits has been developed. It allows detecting low currents in electronic structures. The development of sensor systems for magnetic field gradiometers monitoring biomagnetic signals is ongoing. The sensor concept has been drafted and validated by system modelling and component testing. A compact ruggedized magnetometer for space applications is under development. The components are developed. The next step will be testing and integration.
WP4 is dedicated to the dissemination of the project results with the goal of raising awareness on quantum sensors among potential customers. We have presented AMADEUS in workshops and conferences as well as to the Quantum Flagship and the Quantum Industry Consortium. Six articles in journals have been published describing the achievements of the project beyond the state of the art. A strong collaboration with several quantum sensor companies outside AMADEUS was established. The website of the project is running and regularly updated (https://amadeus-nv.eu/).
The objective of WP5 is to determine a clear path to reach target markets for this new technology. Market studies are ongoing in three main fields of applications: telecom, microelectronics and medical domain. The outcomes are expected at the end of the second year of the project. We also facilitate the emergence of EU suppliers of diamond material by testing the crystals they produce. We have also created an Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) with three external renowned experts. The IAB provides input to the project regarding market expectations (performance, cost), trends (competitors) and regulatory considerations. It also assesses the project results and Value Propositions in view of potential marketable products.
WP6 sets-up an effective coordination and management framework for the AMADEUS consortium to ensure progress of the project towards its planned objectives and respect of contractual commitments, as well as to ensure the strategic and operational management of the project. This is a continuous activity throughout the entire project duration. The progress of the project is followed in the monthly meetings of the Executive Board and in in-person General Assembly meetings every 6 months.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Since the project is in its first stage, the most significant advances have been made on the material development (WP1) and on the components (WP2), in each cases achieving results beyond the state of the art published in scientific journals (WP4). Moreover, the integration of those components has started in order to achieve the demonstrators targeted in WP3. The project is well on track and progresses according to the work-plan. No major deviation has been identified so far and we expect to reach the objectives at the end of the project.