Leiden startup develops probe for quantum quality assurance

Quantum research at Leiden University has led to the launch of startup Quantamap, which focuses on developing metrology and diagnostic tools for the quantum industry. “Our unique sensors and quantum-first approach put us years ahead of any emerging competitive techniques,” says CEO Johannes Jobst.

While studying quantum materials, the physicist Kaveh Lahabi realized he didn’t have the right tools. “I’ll need a new type of microscope that can measure not just one parameter but many at the same time: currents, magnetism, temperature, microwave frequencies, and surface structure. And all that with nanometer resolution,” Lahabi explains.

Such a tool would be useful for developers of quantum chips as well, particularly for finding out which component failed and why. Quantamap has developed a quantum sensor that integrates into the probe of a microscope. When the probe scans the surface of a sample, the sensor measures properties like the current, temperature and magnetic field in parallel.