Nanoscale Thermometer

In a recently published study, physicists reported that they have developed a thermometer that is so small it can measure temperature changes at the quantum level. By combining thermodynamic tools with quantum metrology, the researchers were able to characterize both the accuracy of the probes and the margin of error that goes along with any temperature measurement, to fully characterize their performance. For example, by sacrificing some precision, the tiny thermometers can maintain constant sensitivity over a wider range of temperatures. And in situations where the time available for measurement may be limited due to the transient nature of a specific reaction, the researchers were able to study the maximum accuracy that could be achieved using such devices.

Accurate quantum thermometers can detect small temperature fluctuations in microscopic environments, such as within a biological cell. They represent a giant leap in technology for a wide array of applications including bioscience, chemistry and physics. Eventually, these nano-scale devices could also be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.