Super Sensors: Next-Gen Quantum Research Gets Big Boost At Ohio State University

From the relatively low-tech thermostat that tells your home HVAC system when to turn up the AC, to the incredibly complex strategic early warning systems that help keep our nation safe from nuclear missiles; sensors are a vital part of our daily lives. In fact, they are so ubiquitous that you just take them for granted, from the motion sensor that opens the door at the grocery store, to the GPS chip built into your phone. But what if there was something so mind-bindingly different and fantastic, that you’d swear it was powered by science fiction, instead of just plain old everyday science–and even better– what if it already exists today? Well, it turns out that it does, it’s called “next generation quantum sensing”, and they’re researching it right now at Ohio State University, thanks in part to a $4 million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation. Listen now, as we talk about how it works, what it can do already, and what it could do in the future, with Physics Professor, Dr. Ezekiel “Zeke” Johnston-Halperin, who Co-Directs OSU's Center for Quantum Information Science and Engineering. Bio Ezekiel Johnston-Halperin received his PhD in Physics from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2003. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Physics at The Ohio State University, Columbus. Prof. Johnston-Halperin’s research focuses on studies of coherent spin and magnetization dynamics, synthesis of magnetic materials, and prototype device development for spintronics and quantum information applications. Prof. Johnston-Halperin is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and served on the Executive Committee of the Division of Materials Physics (DMP), has held science leadership positions such as IRG and Thrust co-leadership in NSF MRSEC and DOE EFRC centers, respectively, and is leading the NSF-funded education initiative QuSTEAM: Convergent Undergraduate Education in Quantum Science Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.