News: India’s first indigenous Quantum Diamond Microscope was announced under the National Quantum Mission at (Emerging Science Technology and Innovation Conclave) ESTIC 2025.
About Quantum Diamond Microscopy (QDM)
- A Quantum Diamond Microscope is a quantum imaging system that uses nitrogen-vacancy centres in a thin diamond layer to optically map dynamic, three-dimensional magnetic fields at the nanoscale.
- India’s first patent: The QDM marks a milestone in quantum sensing and has earned India its first patent in this domain.
- Developed by : It has been developed by the P-Quest Group at IIT Bombay under the National Quantum Mission.
- Technology Used
- The microscope uses nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres in diamond, which are atomic-scale defects formed by a nitrogen atom next to a vacancy.
- These NV center show strong quantum coherence at room temperature and are highly sensitive to magnetic, electric, and thermal variations.
- The system uses optically detected magnetic resonance to read local magnetic fields.
- Uses
- It helps in neuroscience and materials research by mapping dynamic magnetic activity.
- It supports non-destructive evaluation of semiconductor chips, especially in 3D chip architectures.
- It can be expanded for biological imaging and geological magnetisation studies.
