News Quantum Physics

This environmentally friendly quantum sensor runs on sunlight

Trading power-hungry lasers for sunlight is a first step toward sustainable quantum tech

tweezers hold a diamond sensor as light shines through

Light shines through a diamond sensor that is the heart of a sunlight-powered quantum device that measures magnetic fields.

Yunbin Zhu/University of Science and Technology of China

By James R. Riordon

Quantum tech is going green.

A new take on highly sensitive magnetic field sensors ditches the power-hungry lasers that previous devices have relied on to make their measurements and replaces them with sunlight. Lasers can gobble 100 watts or so of power — like keeping a bright lightbulb burning.