The Quantum Sensors Division at NIST develops advanced photon and particle detection technologies using superconducting sensors and ultra-low temperature electronics. Their sensors leverage quantum effects and extreme cold to achieve unprecedented sensitivity and precision in measuring energy and power across the electromagnetic spectrum.
The division’s work spans a wide range of applications, from detecting cosmic microwave background radiation to monitoring nuclear fuel. Their devices have been deployed in extreme environments like outer space, the South Pole, and the summit of Mauna Kea. The division has grown to over 50 scientists, engineers, and students since its creation in the early 1990s.
Current projects include the Athena x-ray satellite, Simons Observatory, and CMB-S4. The division is divided into four groups focusing on superconducting transition-edge sensors, SQUID multiplexing, parametric amplifiers, and microwave kinetic inductance detectors.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/pml/quantum-sensors
Keywords: superconducting, sensors, metrology, quantum, photon
