Ein Mann trägt rote Schutzbrillen und arbeitet konzentriert an einer technischen Apparatur, umgeben von Kabeln und grüner Beleuchtung.
© Fraunhofer IAF

About us

Quantum Sensing Appli­ca­tion Laboratory

The Quantum Sensing Appli­ca­tion Labora­tory: quantum magne­to­me­try for indus­trial applications 

The Quantum Sensing Appli­ca­tion Labora­tory at Fraunhofer IAF in Freiburg conta­ins several imaging quantum magne­to­me­ters based on NV centers in diamond, which allow measu­re­ments with the highest spatial resolu­tion. The lab offers interes­ted parties from indus­try and research the oppor­tu­nity to test the innova­tive quantum magne­to­me­try for their speci­fic applications.

The Virtual Quantum Sensing Appli­ca­tion Labora­tory is a digital replica of the onsite lab at Fraunhofer IAF to illus­trate the innova­tive poten­tial of quantum sensor techno­logy for indus­try and society and to facili­tate its access. The aim is to work with partners from indus­try to develop new appli­ca­tion scena­rios for quantum sensors. We are very interes­ted in your indivi­dual questi­ons and needs. We are looking forward to your project ideas.

 

Contact

Quantum sensing competencies

The Freiburg insti­tu­tes Fraunhofer IAF and IWM offer their quantum sensing research infra­struc­ture and expertise. 

With its unique infra­struc­ture, the appli­ca­tion labora­tory is the ideal contact point for research and develo­p­ment work in the field of quantum magne­to­me­try. The appli­ca­ti­ons of the techno­lo­gies and measu­ring systems range from material analy­sis to indus­trial process monito­ring, testing of aerospace equip­ment or nanoelec­tro­nics through to biome­di­cal applications.

With its wide range of high-resolu­tion and highly sensi­tive measu­re­ment systems, Fraunhofer offers the right quantum sensor solution for a wide variety of measu­re­ment and develo­p­ment requirements.

Zwei Forschende betrachten einen optischen Aufbau im Labor.
© Fraunhofer IAF

The insti­tu­tes

Fraunhofer IAF

The optimiza­tion of complex electro­nic circuits, the visua­liza­tion of indivi­dual bits in electro­nic storage media or a look into the tiny magne­tic fields of the heart and brain to improve medical diagnostics—these are the goals we are pursuing at Fraunhofer IAF with the help of diamond-based quantum sensor technology. 

Our quantum sensors achieve outstan­ding proper­ties in the combi­na­tion of spatial resolu­tion and sensi­ti­vity. Diffe­rent sensor princi­ples can be combi­ned with each other and allow very compact designs up to complete systems. Due to their special physi­cal proper­ties, diamond quantum sensors function at room tempe­ra­ture and are there­fore ideal for indus­trial applications.

Visit Fraunhofer IAF website

Gebäude des Fraunhofer IAF in Freiburg
© Fraunhofer IAF

Fraunhofer IWM

At Fraunhofer IWM, we are resear­ching how weak magne­tic signals in stres­sed material samples can be used for the early detec­tion of defects and how we can make this under­stan­ding usable for indus­trial appli­ca­ti­ons. However, in order to detect these defects in the magne­tic field of micro­samples at an early stage, magne­tic sensors are requi­red that are much more sensi­tive and allow a higher spatial resolu­tion than current systems. We use highly sensi­tive quantum magne­to­me­ters for this purpose.

We are at the forefront of applied research at the inter­face between science and indus­try and offer our partners the oppor­tu­nity to be first in materi­als science enabled by quantum magnetometry.

Visit Fraunhofer IWM website

Haupteingang des Fraunhofer IWM
© Fraunhofer IWM

Our experts

Dr. Philipp D'Astolfo, Fraunhofer IAF
Dr. Philipp D’Astolfo

I comple­ted my physics degree in experi­men­tal solid state physics, with a docto­rate in scanning probe micro­scopy, at the Univer­sity of Basel. At Fraunhofer IAF, I have been working as a scien­tist in the Quantum Sensing Group since 2022 on the topic of scanning probe magne­to­me­try with nitro­gen vacancy centers in diamond. 

Mail | Linke­dIn
Dr. Rebekka Eberle, Fraunhofer IAF
Dr. Rebekka Eberle

I studied Renewa­ble Energies in Weiden­bach and Freiburg and now work as a Group Leader in the field of quantum techno­lo­gies. The focus here is on the develo­p­ment of integra­ted quantum systems with nitro­gen color centers in diamond and their use in quantum sensing and computing. 

Mail | Linke­dIn
Dr. Jan Jeske, Fraunhofer IAF
Dr. Jan Jeske

I studied physics at KIT in Karls­ruhe and head the Quantum Sensors Group in the Quantum Compon­ents Business Unit at Fraunhofer IAF. I am currently conduc­ting research in the field of quantum sensor techno­logy. In parti­cu­lar, we are working on NV magne­to­me­try in diffe­rent variants: micro- and nanos­cale imaging magne­tic field measu­re­ments as well as the develo­p­ment of highly sensi­tive laser thres­hold magnetometry. 

Mail | Linke­dIn
Dr. Peter Knittel, Fraunhofer IAF
Dr. Peter Knittel

I am Group Manager and Deputy Head of Business Unit Quantum Systems at Fraunhofer IAF. I came to materi­als research after study­ing chemis­try and comple­ting my docto­rate at Ulm Univer­sity. The focus of research in my group is the epitaxy of diamond films for quantum techno­lo­gies and their applications. 

Mail | Linke­dIn
Niklas Mathes, Fraunhofer IAF
Niklas Mathes

I studied physics at KIT in Karls­ruhe and specia­li­zed in experi­men­tal solid state physics. Since 2020, I have been working as a scien­tist in the Quantum Sensing Group at Fraunhofer IAF. Here, I mainly work on wide-field magne­to­me­try based on nitro­gen vacancy centers in diamond. 

Mail | Linke­dIn

Selec­ted projects

Abstrakte Kreise in Blau, Violett und Gelb mit einem Schriftzug

Fraunhofer light­house project QMag

The Quantum Sensing Appli­ca­tion Labora­tory at Fraunhofer IAF was estab­lished as part of the Fraunhofer light­house project QMag, short for quantum magne­to­me­try. Five German Fraunhofer Insti­tu­tes and the British Fraunhofer CAP have joined forces in QMag to bring quantum sensors out of the labs and into industry. 

The project ran from 2019 to 2023 and was funded with 10 million euros in equal parts by the Fraunhofer-Gesell­schaft and the Baden-Württem­berg Minis­try of Econo­mic Affairs, Labor and Tourism.

Nahaufnahme eines optischen Aufbaus im Labor des Fraunhofer IAF
© Fraunhofer IAF

The project consor­tium consis­ted of:

The consor­tium recei­ved acade­mic advice from Prof. Dr. Jörg Wrach­trup from the Univer­sity of Stutt­gart and Prof. Dr. Svenja Knappe from the Univer­sity of Colorado Boulder.

The QMag project recei­ved funding from Fraunhofer-Gesell­schaft and the Baden-Württem­berg Minis­try of Econo­mic Affairs, Labor and Tourism.
Logo des EU-Projekts AMADEUS

EU project AMADEUS

The EU project AMADEUS is part of the Quantum Sensing Appli­ca­tion Labora­tory. In AMADEUS, four advan­ced appli­ca­ti­ons in quantum sensing up to TRL 6–7 are being pursued to meet socie­tal and econo­mic needs for which no solution yet exists.

The project focuses on the detec­tion of defects in semicon­duc­tor compon­ents using wide-field magne­to­me­try in order to enable rapid defect charac­te­riza­tion and identi­fi­ca­tion in the semicon­duc­tor industry.

The consor­tium invol­ves large compa­nies, RTOs, SMEs and acade­mic partners. It addres­ses the entire value chain, from the diamond material to the system working in the opera­tio­nal environ­ment along which the work plan is organi­zed. The partners will produce the material and compon­ents that will be incor­po­ra­ted into the opera­tio­nal systems.

2''-Diamantwafer, gehalten von einer Hand im Gummihandschuh
© Fraunhofer IAF

The project consor­tium consists of:

The AMADEUS project is recei­ving funding from the European Commis­sion under grant agree­ment no. 101080136.
EU-Flagge