Grants and Contributions

Navigation in the Arctic without GPS is a major issue of sovereignty and national security, particularly in the context of conflict or jamming. This project is developing a strategy for a Canadian capability based on magnetic field mapping, utilizing sovereign quantum and space-based sensor capabilities. The business model for the sale of magnetic maps and navigation equipment will be refined, security requirements and standards will be identified, and consultations with defence users will clarify the capabilities and roadmap for this sovereign navigation capability.

While quantum magnetometers have achieved remarkable sensitivity, accuracy and stability can be key to real-world deployment. The Project exploits the quantum states of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond to target development of a portable vector magnetometer with best-in-class accuracy. Comprising experts in NV physics, quantum control and optimization, and machine learning, along with scientists from startup SBQuantum skilled in magnetometer design, calibration and deployment, SBQuantum will tackle this challenge across multiple fronts, from improved fundamental physical models to optimized control and state-of-the-art machine learning calibrations. Highly accurate vector magnetometry opens the door to stable sensor arrays that can detect and differentiate magnetic and conductive materials, a key capability for security technology. SBQuantum will also examine optimal strategies to deploy its accurate vector magnetometers for remote threat detection, laying the groundwork for commercial and defence applications that could significantly impact Canadian society.

The Firm is looking to identify co-innovation partners who can share expertise in improved sensitivity diamond sensors and partners interested in bringing their technology to markets outside of defense, mining and navigation.

Atomic defects in diamonds offer the potential to serve as room-temperature quantum sensors, enabling precise monitoring of temperature, pressure, and electromagnetic fields with unprecedented precision. Diamond-based quantum magnetosensors offer extremely promising applications in orbital magnetosphere mapping, low-altitude mapping for mineral prospecting, and ground-level boarded sensors for defense and environmental applications. Being in their technological infancy, these diamond devices struggle to rival their non-quantum counterparts but do present tremendous potential for improvement. By combining the expertise of SBQuantum, the Université de Sherbrooke, the University of Calgary, and two National Research Council centers, the Project brings these quantum magnetosensors to their full deployment potential and lead the Canadian quantum technology industrial ecosystem to new horizons. The Project is transformative research that has the potential to revolutionize production processes and the Canadian quantum sensing technology landscape by significantly improving the sensitivity, cost, size, power consumption and industrial applications of magnetic quantum sensors. This will be accomplished by producing and commercializing nano integrated quantum magnetometers for high sensitivity, accuracy, and cost efficiency. To realise this, the Project Team will develop a scalable diamond-based quantum sensor fabrication process and demonstrate a robust industrial packaging methods to establish a Canadian assembly line for quantum photonic products. The initiative also targets the advancement of applications for the Canadian mining industry with quantum sensing technology for ore processing and the deployment of drones for advanced exploration surveys. Finally, the industrial partner will distribute those quantum sensing solutions to domestic and international clients

Use AI to establish relationships between the physical parameters limiting the accuracy of diamond-based quantum magnetometers, in order to refine vector magnetometry models and adapt the magnetic field drift compensation model.

The purpose of the Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) contribution agreement is to support Canadian SMEs identify international partners in CIIP target countries for industrial research and development collaboration that has good potential for commercialization.

The project aims to improve a diamond-based vector magnetometer by exploring approaches to quantum control without bias magnets, thereby increasing its sensitivity for geophysical exploration surveys.

This project of SB Quantum (Canada) is part of UKRI Quantum - 10074338 - QUAMINEX (QUantum Accelerated Mining EXploration) with Innovate UK (UK) and aims to combine two innovative geophysical surveying technologies, gravimetry and magnetometry, within a mobile sensor platform to provide enhanced potential field data for exploration of critical minerals.

Earth’s magnetic field is key to reliable navigation, providing heading and orientation as would a compass do. We already use a World Magnetic Model (WMM) to know which way we are headed on the street. However, the magnetic pole is moving – requiring constant updates of the WMM.

MagQSpace’s objective is to ready a high accuracy diamond based vector magnetometer for its space deployment on a CubeSat, to generate high quality magnetic field data for the WMM. SBQuantum has prototyped the technology on ground, but its operation in a space environment is still to be demonstrated. This project will test the quantum magnetometer for radiation, thermal, vibe and vacuum for its space deployment. In addition to providing the base map for all navigation systems heading measurements, the rugged magnetometer will also improve mining geological interpretation for battery minerals discoveries. It will also provide magnetic based navigation on planets where positioning network are missing.

The project concerns the characterization of the performances of a quantum magnetometer based on diamond.