India Develops First Indigenous Quantum Diamond Microscope Under National Quantum Mission

In a landmark achievement, India has developed its first indigenous Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM) for dynamic magnetic field imaging. The breakthrough marks a major step forward in quantum sensing and nanoscale imaging, showcasing India’s growing strength in advanced scientific innovation.

The technology was developed by the P-Quest Group at IIT Bombay under the National Quantum Mission (NQM) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The announcement was made during the Emerging Science Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC 2025) in the presence of Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh, Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay K. Sood, and DST Secretary Prof. Abhay Karandikar.

Revolutionary Quantum Technology from IIT Bombay

The QDM has been developed under the leadership of Professor Kasturi Saha and is based on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond—atomic-scale defects that maintain quantum coherence at room temperature. These NV centers are exceptionally sensitive to variations in magnetic, electric, and thermal fields, enabling precise optical readouts of local magnetic activity through optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR).

This cutting-edge microscope enables three-dimensional (3D) magnetic field imaging at the nanoscale, offering widefield visualization of dynamic magnetic phenomena similar to optical microscopy.

Applications Across Neuroscience, Chip Diagnostics, and Materials Research

The QDM’s capabilities open new frontiers in neuroscience, materials research, and non-destructive semiconductor testing. It can map buried current paths and multilayer structures in 3D—crucial for diagnosing complex integrated circuits and next-generation 3D chip architectures.

Traditional diagnostic tools often struggle with the growing intricacy of cryogenic processors and quantum devices, but the QDM provides a transformative high-resolution imaging solution for these emerging technologies.

Integrating Quantum Imaging with AI and Machine Learning

Aligned with the vision of the National Quantum Mission, Prof. Saha’s team aims to integrate the QDM platform with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)-based computational imaging. This integration is expected to expand applications into biological imaging, geological magnetization studies, and advanced chip diagnostics.

The innovation has also earned India’s first patent in the field of quantum diamond microscopy, highlighting the nation’s progress in indigenous quantum technologies and next-generation imaging systems.

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