Ultrasensitive Quantum Sensors Based on High-Order Exceptional Bound States

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new type of highly sensitive and robust quantum sensor based on high-order exceptional bound states, which could revolutionize sensing technologies.

Contribution

The first construction and experimental demonstration of non-Hermitian quantum sensors based on high-order exceptional bound states.

Findings

High-order exceptional bound states enable sensors with unprecedented sensitivity and robustness.

The proposed sensors outperform previous non-Hermitian sensors by multiple orders of magnitude.

Experimental validation of sensing capabilities using weak magnetic field detection in circuit networks.

Abstract

High-precision sensors are of fundamental importance in modern society and technology. Although there are various schemes for the construction of sensors relying on different physical mechanisms, obtaining sensors with higher levels of sensitivity and stronger robustness has always been expected. In particular, non-Hermitian quantum sensors have recently attracted substantial attention due to their unique properties. So far, 2 types of non-Hermitian sensors based on exceptional points and topological zero modes have been realized. Here, high-order exceptional bound states with robust properties are constructed for the first time. Based on these states, we propose theoretically and demonstrate experimentally another new type of non-Hermitian quantum sensors. Such sensors not only are robust against disorders but also have unprecedented sensitivity. Their sensing performance can display the improvement of many orders of magnitude over the previous non-Hermitian sensors. Furthermore, we design and fabricate such sensors based on circuit networks. Taking weak magnetic field detection as an example, we also experimentally demonstrate their sensing capabilities. Our work opens up new avenues for the development of highly sensitive sensors, which have a wide range of applications in various fields.

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