QUANTUM-ENHANCED BENCHTOP NMR SPECTROMETER

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.