Normating colour-centre-based quantum sensing technology towards industrial application and standards

The project objectives are: 1. To implement reference methods in the production of NV-based sensors, covering properties (e.g., doping, native defects concentration or position of colour centres). Additionally, to develop methods for the standardised characterisation of NV-based sensors, including the definition of measurement procedures, figures of merit and performance in terms of key parameters. This will include methods for sub-micron localisation (spatial resolution <500 nm) of point defects, quantification of their formation yield (> 10 %) via controlled ion implantation in diamond, and 3D confocal mapping, and traceability. 2. To develop and validate reproducible procedures for producing and testing non-NV sensors/single photon emitters (e.g. novel defects in diamond, point defects in Si, SiC, 2D materials (hBN), semiconductor quantum dots (e.g. InAs, etc.). This will include the development of a benchmarking with respect to NV sensors, in terms e.g. of contrast, brightness, emission wavelength. 3. To extend current techniques and methods for the production of sensors based on colour centres in diamond, with enhanced performance. This will include enhancement of the excitation source (e.g. squeezed light excitation for reduction of pump noise level, coupling of the photoluminescent (PL) sensors to photon-collection-enhancing structures) and enhancement of the readout (e.g. machinelearning based protocols) to optimise the performance based on the specific signal being measured and feasibility study on synchronous detection of PL and electric-activity in biological samples (e.g. tests of background PL emission of Multi-Electrode Arrays (MEAs)). 4. To facilitate the take up of the technology and measurement infrastructure developed in the project by the measurement supply chain (NMIs/DIs), standards developing organisations (CEN/CENELEC JTC-22) and end users (industry, sensor manufacturers, calibration facilities) and EMN-Quantum.