Sensors underpin the operation of modern vehicles, medical devices, and consumer electronics. Quantum sensors are set to enhance the capabilities of a range of technologies, for example by enabling more accurate GPS-denied navigation in vehicles through quantum gyroscopes and atomic clocks, or by unlocking highly accurate and accessible brain imaging through quantum magnetometers. Given the diversity of technologies and target applications, there is significant variation of technology readiness level (TRL) and addressable market size across the quantum sensor space. For example, millions of chip-scale tunnelling magneto resistance (TMR) sensors have already been sold into the automotive sector for remote current sensing, whilst navigation with quantum magnetometers is just entering the market through the efforts of companies like Q-CTRL and SandboxAQ. Through conversations with both research centers and technology developers, this report assesses the technical and commercial readiness level of each underlying quantum sensing technology and provides a roadmap for future development.

 

This comprehensive report covers atomic clocks, quantum magnetic field sensors, quantum gyroscopes, quantum accelerometers, quantum gravimeters, quantum RF sensors, single photon detectors, quantum imaging, and components for quantum sensors. Each quantum sensor category is assessed using SWOT analyses and technical benchmarking tables. Key players are classified in terms of their capabilities and aims, and products (where available) are benchmarked against each other and their classical incumbents. Applications explored include timing and inertial navigation, remote current sensing, biomagnetic imaging, underground asset mapping, quantum computing readout, gas LiDAR, and RF testing.

 

With each different sensing platform comes a unique set of challenges in their manufacture and potential for miniaturization. While atomic clocks have already been brought down to the chip-scale, their premium cost limits current use cases to high-end navigation in aerospace and submersibles. Nevertheless, there are ongoing efforts to reduce the cost of producing key components such as vapor cells and chip-scale lasers to optimize the production of atomic quantum sensors. This report breaks down the materials and manufacturing challenges in improving the SWaP-C (size, weight, and power + cost) of quantum sensors to unlock higher-volume applications such as positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) in autonomous vehicles or consumer electronics.

 

Meanwhile, quantum sensors based on nitrogen-vacancy defects in diamond are garnering attention due to their compact, robust nature and operation at room temperature. However, any wider adoption of NV diamond quantum sensors will hinge on players in the supply chain that specialize in manufacturing synthetic diamond for quantum applications such as Element Six and Diatope. This report explores the material properties and supply chain dynamics for a range of quantum sensing components, focusing not only on sensor OEMs but also materials suppliers and end users.

 

To summarize the results of this market research, the Quantum Sensors Market report contains 20-year forecasts for both the volume and annual revenue of 20 different quantum sensing technologies. In each case, clear market narratives are presented, predicting how different quantum sensors will claim market share from each other and from classical incumbents, drawing on the wider expertise of IDTechEx research in other sensor markets and adjacent topics such as future mobility.

 

This report provides a high-level assessment of the overall quantum sensing landscape. Covering fundamental technologies, key sensor types, and applications. This includes: