Quantum Physics

Quantum Metrology

Quanta – discrete packets of energy — are used in quantum metrology to determine the standards that define units of measurement and for other high-precision studies. Quantum mechanics determines the absolute precision of any measurement. Quantum metrology, on the other hand, makes advantage of quantum effects to improve precision beyond what is feasible with traditional methods.

Quantum metrology is concerned with the accuracy with which unknown quantities can be calculated or detected. For practical applications including parameter estimation, state discrimination, and hypothesis testing, quantum mechanics can provide advantages over previously known methodologies. Non-classical effects, in particular, can be used to improve the accuracy of estimating quantities of interest such magnetic fields, forces, phases, and frequencies. The quantum advantage shows as a quadratic scaling difference in terms of relevant resources, such as the number of sensing systems, as compared to the best classical techniques for many different applications.