The three contracts, two from NASA and one from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), represent the enormous potential of quantum sensing to advance a variety of scientific fields with cutting-edge real-world applications. Using quantum mechanics, these microscopic sensors need only the barest signal—even a single ion—to make a measurement, making them much more precise in many cases than classical sensors.

The potential applications of the tiny-but-robust sensors QuantCAD is developing span a large range of fields: aerospace, as magnetic navigation for airborne devices that can’t use GPS; health, as a method of measuring the heart’s magnetic fields and detecting molecular biomarkers; geological prospecting and the study of underground/underwater anomalies; planetary probing and solar weather monitoring; and the development of new materials. Their tiny size also expands their applications to technology like nanosatellites—small satellites that can be sent further and more easily into space due to their low weight.

“These three projects give us the opportunity to take our groundbreaking theory and apply it to solve real-world problems,” said Adonai Cruz, principal scientist at QuantCAD, an Iowa City and Chicago based company that develops simulation software for modelling noise and current in quantum devices such as high-resolution quantum sensors. “Contracting with both of these government agencies provides an incredible opportunity for QuantCAD to advance the technology of quantum sensing.”ntract enables us to broaden our research team and further develop our partnerships within the quantum community.”

The contracts also represent an opportunity to help train early-career professionals. As part of its commitment to developing a highly skilled and significantly diverse quantum workforce, QuantCAD plans to provide an opening associated with each of these contracts for an undergraduate or recently graduated intern to get hands-on experience working in quantum technology and experiencing the life of a startup company first-hand. These internships will provide opportunities to develop a wide range of specific skills including coding, creating and testing step-by-step manuals for core products, the development of market segment sales databases along with a marketing campaign for quantum sensors, and the creation of web-based introductions to quantum sensing for non-scientists.

In 2021, QuantCAD was a member of Cohort 1 of Duality, the nation’s first accelerator program exclusively focused on supporting quantum startups. This year, the company received both a Phase I contract and a Phase II contract from NASA. Phase I projects are judged by their technical merit and commercial potential; companies that receive a Phase I contract may submit a subsequent proposal for Phase II funding, which is used to develop a prototype.

The Phase II funding builds on a project that received Phase I funding in 2022: highly sensitive atomic magnetometers, which measure magnetic fields. Unlike other magnetometers of its size, which usually need special optical equipment, these magnetometers only need electronics. They could be used to search for life on other planets, study the minerals of asteroids, or monitor solar flares. To make these sensors, QuantCAD will be working with GE Research, Pennsylvania State University, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The new Phase I project is a quantum sensor that uses the same principles as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines to analyze water on other planets. Magnetic resonance technology at such a small scale is invaluable for the biological sciences, with such applications as imaging molecules or nanoparticles, or detecting biomarkers within a single cell.

The third project answers a call from DARPA for the development of magnetometers that can withstand extremely high temperatures. QuantCAD’s proposed magnetometer does not need optical equipment, and also exploits magnetic resonance principles in the same vein as the NASA Phase I product—but this magnetometer would remain operational for over 40 hours at temperatures above 750 degrees Fahrenheit (400 degrees Celsius).

“Our projects for both NASA and DARPA will further QuantCAD's mission to build high sensitivity, low noise quantum sensors,” said Jennifer Flatté, CEO of QuantCAD. “I am just as delighted to note that they will also provide additional opportunities for the development of a highly skilled and significantly diverse workforce within the quantum sector.”