The Rise of Quantum Sensors for Earthquake Prediction
Quantum sensors uniquely combine the fruits of science and safety in a very entertaining and eye-opening way. Their promise is that they will provide reliable Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems in case of GPS jamming or when signals are blocked in urban areas.
Entangled particles are used to pick up the smallest changes in gravity, magnetic field and light; which makes them perfect for otherwise unimpressive applications like earthquake prediction and early warning.
Unprecedented sensitivity
Most current technologies, like seismographs, merely record waves as they happen without providing sufficient data for scientists to identify potential hot spots or activate early warning systems. Quantum sensing will provide a solution because it can use sensors measuring tiny atomic fluctuations to determine very precisely the changes in magnetic fields or gravitational forces acting on them.
Unlike traditional seismographs, quantum sensors detect minute variations in gravity that occur just before earthquakes. Such information, linked with the historical seismic records, satellite imaging, and geological surveys, could provide researchers the means to use it more precisely on its origin and trigger early warnings for impending disasters.
Q CTRL, one of the companies doing this work, claims their system is able to detect changes to magnetic fields, using atoms and lasers, much more precisely than anything else up to date, thus giving people just that much more time before injuries or fatalities occur.
No computer power is as lofty as that of quantum computing, which allows seismic hazard maps to be produced providing the details of where the risk is and how designing effective early warning systems will help. Such maps will also inform urban planning and infrastructure development by designing safe buildings and strengthening such critical facilities-all while encouraging governments and private entities alike to smartly invest toward earthquake mitigation-leading to ultimately more resilient societies managing their resources wisely to save lives and minimize damage.
Uncompromising Precision
Quantum sensors measure at an atomic level, which enables them to detect even very minute vibrations or changes in electric and magnetic fields or, much more accurately than conventional sensors, in motion (see graphic).
Researchers in physics have developed quantum sensors using a plethora of approaches including use of neutral atoms, trapped ions and solid-state spins. These quantum sensors can pick extremely small signals such as gravitational attraction exerted on buried objects and would detect the weak magnetic fields generated by the human brain, and represent performance thresholds surpassing those of traditional devices for environmental changes.
One major scientific problem that affects the performance of sensors involves the separation of relevant signals and back ground noise signals (like earthquake or volcanic activity) from the sensor output. For this purpose, researchers are working on quantum sensors along with machine learning algorithms that could further improve results by learning to understand and ignore spurious signals such as that caused by vehicle traffic.
If there are limits to quantum technology, many scientists anticipate that sensing will be the first commercial success in that area. Kai Bongs from Birmingham University in England asserts that gravity-measuring quantum sensors utilizing nitrogen-vacancy defects in diamond could be ubiquitous within five years and pull in upwards of US$1 billion annually; early movers bringing in experts into quantum sensing will be at an advantage when production begins to scale.
Early Alerts
Imagine a global network of quantum sensors placed around the world at all seismic hotspots, continuously monitoring ground movements in real time, sending real-time data to a central system in real time-all of which would be referred to as an early warning system for impending earthquakes with seconds or minutes garnished extra time for people to seek shelter, stop transportation services, pipeline shutdown, and reduce damage.
For all the great potential that quantum sensing promises, great investments and research efforts have to be put in for it to approach commercial viability. The good thing is that the cost of quantum hardware and software is steadily decreasing: researchers only two years ago managed to place a diamond-based quantum sensor onto a silicon chip--the first step towards mass production of low-cost devices. Furthermore, quantum communications networks and clocks that will offer extraordinary precision in timekeeping will further contribute to the reduced costs associated with quantum sensors.
Combining quantum sensing with artificial intelligence and the techniques established with machine learning has the potential to significantly fine-tune earth quake prediction models and reduce computational complexity. Joint action of such an effort between traditional technology in seismology techniques and quantum technology will give rise to very strong early warning systems and, ultimately, better preparedness and mitigation schemes. Nevertheless, to really bring out their full potential at quantum sensing, companies would need to cooperate closely between quantum experts and seismologists in designing accurate yet scalable models.
Prospective Areas
Detecting tiny shifts in the Earth's gravity field will revolutionize seismology- much improved earthquake simulations and early warning systems; quantum sensors integrated with machine-learning algorithms for realistic earthquake simulation and hazard maps will allow communities to reconceptualize disaster anticipation, thereby limiting infrastructure damage and saving lives.
Scientists are also striving hard to develop the quantum sensing technique, which utilizes the curious properties of atoms and photons to sense much smaller changes in gravitational fields as compared to traditional seismic sensors; indeed, when used with quantum entanglement, they become even more precise.
