Pioneering Technique Detects Subtle Signals from the Quantum World

By Estudio Chaloupka

In stark contrast to everyday experience—where objects follow well-defined paths and obey seemingly predictable rules—the quantum realm operates under principles that often defy intuition. Invisible particles can exist in multiple places at once, interact non-locally, and behave unpredictably. To investigate this complex and elusive universe, scientists from Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) have developed a groundbreaking method to detect subtle quantum signals previously considered imperceptible.

The technique, published in the journal PRX Quantum, uses ultra-sensitive atomic sensors to detect and characterize the so-called quantum noise—fluctuations in the quantum environment that reveal essential information about system behavior. This advancement could not only enhance quantum technology performance but also revolutionize biomolecular diagnostics and provide insights into unresolved questions in physics.

“One of the biggest challenges in modern physics is understanding the behavior of extremely small systems,” explains Gonzalo Álvarez, CONICET researcher at the Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INN, CONICET-CNEA) and co-author of the study. “Our method introduces a new approach: using quantum sensors to detect, in real time, changes in the environment—non-classical signals or unexpected phenomena. This has important implications for observing biological processes, such as how a molecule reacts inside a cell or how a disease starts at the molecular level.”

Álvarez adds that detecting these processes one by one, in real time, could significantly improve diagnostics, enable earlier interventions, and lead to highly tailored treatments.

Beyond biomedicine, the technique also offers promising applications in quantum computing. Quantum computers are highly sensitive to environmental disturbances, including quantum noise, which affects their stability and reliability. “By better characterizing the noise,” Álvarez notes, “we can design strategies to suppress or control it, paving the way for more robust and practical quantum devices.”

The method also enables exploration of fundamental quantum phenomena under real-world conditions—far from the idealized environments of controlled laboratories. These include studies of quantum chaos and time-reversal symmetry breaking, which are central to understanding the arrow of time and the behavior of many-body quantum systems.

To make the invisible quantum signals measurable, the researchers used atoms that naturally exist within the quantum regime, carefully controlling them to serve as precise sensors. “Quantum sensors are tiny systems capable of capturing nearly undetectable signals—like atomic-scale microphones. With them, we can monitor how the surrounding environment behaves, especially when it becomes unpredictable, like a river overflowing and swirling with eddies,” says Álvarez.

Analía Zwick, also a CONICET researcher at the INN and co-author of the study, highlights the significance of this work: “Our approach opens a new path for exploring complex quantum environments that, until now, were hard or even impossible to characterize.” She describes the quantum world as a space where particles “interact as if dancing to unpredictable music, with choreographies that defy logic.”

Looking ahead, the team plans to deepen their investigation into quantum disorder—understanding how various types of chaos and temporal symmetry breaking influence sensor behavior. “This could help us pose new questions about time, irreversibility, and collective quantum dynamics,” Zwick notes.

The research team emphasizes the significance of conducting high-impact, frontier science from Argentina. “We’re driven by the goal of contributing to the development of quantum technologies from within our country,” says Zwick. “We believe it's possible to generate original knowledge and innovative solutions to global challenges from here.”

To that end, the group is actively collaborating with leading international teams in quantum technologies. These partnerships aim to apply their new tools in real-world scenarios, including advancements in biomolecular imaging and early disease diagnostics at the atomic scale. “Such collaborations strengthen our ability to translate laboratory science into concrete applications,” Zwick concludes.

Source: CONICET

Reference:
Kuffer, M., Zwick, A., & Álvarez, G. A. (2025). Sensing out-of-equilibrium and quantum non-Gaussian environments via induced time-reversal symmetry breaking on the quantum-probe dynamics. PRX Quantum, 6(2), 020320.