OSCAR-QUBE - student made diamond based quantum magnetic field sensor for space applications
At a Glance
Section titled âAt a Glanceâ| Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 2022-04-01 |
| Journal | 4th Symposium on Space Educational Activities |
| Authors | Boo Carmans, Siemen Achten, Musa Aydogan, Sam Bammens, Yarne Beerden |
| Institutions | IMEC, Hasselt University |
| Citations | 1 |
| Analysis | Full AI Review Included |
Executive Summary
Section titled âExecutive SummaryâThe OSCAR-QUBE project successfully developed and deployed a diamond-based quantum magnetometer utilizing Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers for space applications, achieving flight heritage on the International Space Station (ISS).
- Core Technology: The sensor is a quantum magnetometer based on robust, radiation-hard NV centers in diamond, operating via Optical Detection of Magnetic Resonance (ODMR).
- Performance Metrics: The device achieved a measured magnetic field resolution of less than 300 nT/sqrt(Hz) and operates with a bandwidth of 1.3 kHz.
- Design and Integration: The sensor was engineered to fit the 10 x 10 x 10 cm3 CubeSat form factor, weighing 420 g, and consuming only 5 W of power.
- Mission Success: The QUBE survived launch and was successfully commissioned on the ISS, collecting magnetic field data in Low Earth Orbit for over six months.
- Scientific Output: Preliminary data has been used to generate maps of Earthâs magnetic field that show resemblance to onboard reference data and IGRF (International Geomagnetic Reference Field) simulations.
- Educational Impact: The project provided undergraduate students with full lifecycle experience in space R&D, resulting in several team members pursuing advanced quantum research or ESA Young Graduate Trainee positions.
Technical Specifications
Section titled âTechnical Specificationsâ| Parameter | Value | Unit | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor Material | Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) Centers | N/A | Opto-magnetic defects in crystalline diamond lattice. |
| Measured Resolution | < 300 | nT/sqrt(Hz) | Achieved sensitivity during LEO operation. |
| Measured Bandwidth | 1.3 | kHz | Operational bandwidth of the sensor. |
| Theoretical Sensitivity | Down to 10 | fT/sqrt(Hz) | Potential theoretical limit of NV centers. |
| Theoretical Response Time | < 200 | ns | Fast response capability of the NV centers. |
| Theoretical Dynamic Range | fT to 0.1 | T | Wide dynamic range capability. |
| Physical Dimensions | 10 x 10 x 10 | cm3 | Mechanical constraint imposed by the OYT program (CubeSat standard). |
| Mass | 420 | g | Total weight of the QUBE flight model. |
| Power Consumption | 5 | W | Operational power requirement. |
| Crystallographic Axes | 4 | N/A | Number of axes along which NV centers are located, enabling 3D vector magnetometry. |
| Gyromagnetic Ratio (Îł) | 28.024 | GHz/T | Used in the calculation of magnetic field components from ODMR data. |
Key Methodologies
Section titled âKey Methodologiesâ- Subsystem Development and Integration: The experiment was divided into four main parts: laser, microwave generator, optical detector, and control/power system. These were optimized individually on a testbench before being integrated onto four separate boards (Optical, Science, Laser, Power) within the 10 x 10 x 10 cm3 structure.
- Optical Detection of Magnetic Resonance (ODMR): The core sensing method involves exciting the NV centers using green laser light. The subsequent relaxation (emitting red light) is spin-dependent.
- Microwave Field Addressing: A resonant microwave field is applied to address the spin state, creating a dip in the detected red light spectrum at the resonance frequency.
- Vector Magnetometry: External magnetic fields cause the resonance dip to split into two minima. The frequency difference (Îf) between these minima is proportional to the magnetic field component along the NV axis. Since there are four crystallographic axes, the 3D vector field is determined by solving the system of equations derived from the eight total dips.
- Space Qualification Testing: The QUBE underwent rigorous environmental testing to ensure survival, including vibrational testing (for launch loads), thermal/vacuum testing, and EMI/EMC testing.
- Data Handling and Transmission: Data packets (containing NV and reference sensor measurements) are stored on an SD card or transmitted via Ethernet to the ground segment.
- Ground Data Processing: Data is sorted chronologically, and individual peaks are determined by fitting the data with a Lorentzian curve. GPS and ISS location data are added.
- Magnetic Field Mapping: The extracted magnetic field components are transformed into standard reference frames, such as the body-fixed LVLH (local vertical local horizontal) frame or the heading-invariant NED (North East Down) frame, to generate magnetic field maps of the Earth.
Commercial Applications
Section titled âCommercial Applicationsâ- Quantum Sensing: Development and commercialization of high-sensitivity quantum sensors for both space and terrestrial use, pushing the technological readiness level (TRL) of diamond NV center technology.
- Space Exploration and Navigation: High-precision space magnetometry for mapping planetary magnetic fields, characterizing the near-Earth magnetic environment, and providing attitude determination for launchers (e.g., YPSat project).
- Geophysical Surveying: Terrestrial applications in geology and mining requiring highly sensitive magnetic field measurements.
- Biomedical Imaging: Potential integration of NV diamond technology into advanced medical devices, such as high-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) systems.
- Consumer Technology: Development of spin-off mobile applications (like Aurora Catcher) that utilize quantum magnetometers for specialized detection tasks (e.g., detecting northern lights).
- Interdisciplinary R&D: Providing a proven framework for interdisciplinary student teams to execute complex R&D projects, serving as a model for future technology development programs.
View Original Abstract
Project OSCAR-QUBE (Optical Sensors Based on CARbon materials - QUantum BElgium) is a project from Hasselt University and research institute IMO-IMOMEC that brings together the fields of quantum physics and space exploration. To reach this goal, an interdisciplinary team of physics, electronics engineering and software engineering students created a quantum magnetometer based on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond in the framework of the Orbit-Your-Thesis! programme from ESA Education. In a single year, our team experienced the full lifecycle of a real space experiment from concept and design, to development and testing, to the launch and commissioning onboard the ISS. The resulting sensor is fully functional, with a resolution of < 300 nT/ sqrt(Hz), and has been gathering data in Low Earth Orbit for over six months at this point. From this data, maps of Earthâs magnetic field have been generated and show resemblance to onboard reference data. Currently, both the NV and reference sensor measure a different magnetic field than the one predicted by the International Geomagnetic Reference Field. The reason for this discrepancy is still under investigation. Besides the technological goal of developing a quantum sensor for space magnetometry with a high sensitivity and a wide dynamic range, and the scientific goal of characterizing the magnetic field of the Earth, OSCAR-QUBE also drives student growth. Several of our team members are now (aspiring) ESA Young Graduate Trainees or PhD students in quantum research, and all of us took part in the team competition of the International Astronautical Congress in October 2021, where we won the Hans Von Muldau award. Being an interdisciplinary team, we brought many different skills and viewpoints together, inspiring innovative ideas. However, this could only be done because of our efforts to keep up a good communication and team spirit. We believe that if motivated people work hard to improve the technology, we can change the way magnetometry is done in space.