Quantum Sensing Components for Space Environment Measurements

The most recent Heliophysics decadal survey, The Next Decade in Solar and Space Physics: Exploring and Safeguarding Humanity's Home in Space (2025), emphasized the critical need for "a robust and sustained technology development program [that] ensures advancement of measurement capabilities across the full range of maturity, from inception of a novel concept that may or may not work, to mass production of hundreds of instrument copies." This call reflects a growing, and accelerating, shift in Heliophysics mission architectures from traditional single large spacecraft to novel distributed networks of small satellites that can provide simultaneous multi-point measurements of dynamic solar, magnetospheric, and ionospheric processes. The proliferation of fundamental space environment properties can be accomplished through rides of opportunity and/or targeted constellation missions. Such constellations, and particularly small satellites, can be enabled by sensors with dramatically reduced size, weight, and power, while maintaining or exceeding measurement performance compared to current state of the art. NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate has identified quantum sensing as a transformative technology that can be a means of addressing such needs. Quantum sensors leverage fundamental quantum mechanical phenomena such as superposition, entanglement, and the discrete energy levels of atoms and solid-state defects to achieve measurement sensitivities approaching or exceeding fundamental physical limits. For Heliophysics applications, fundamental properties include in-situ or remote measurements of magnetic fields weak as in the solar wind and strong as in the Earth's environment-, electric fields, neutral and charged particle properties (including but not limited to densities, and velocity and energy distributions), and photon fluxes in relevant remote sensing frequency domains. Quantum sensing offers the potential to measure many of these properties in tenuous plasma environments with sensing techniques tied to fundamental physical constants rather than engineered components subject to drift. This STTR subtopic solicits development of quantum sensing technologies at stages from early concept to flight-like prototype for in-situ or remote space environment measurements supporting solar and Geospace science, Moon to Mars operations, and space weather applications. Examples of application targets include but are not limited to (1) low B-field magnetometers that could operate in lunar temperature extremes (-100 to +120C), (2) quantum E-field sensors that can measure solar wind type of E-fields, i.e. few mV/m; (3) trace charged and neutral gas sensing, including noble gases, water, methane, ammonia, hydrogen and more. It is important to demonstrate innovation in design of both sensing components, control electronics and/or other instrument components in a low SWAP package. Proposals must include partnerships with research institutions, indicate the targeted improvement over state of the art, and address pathways toward space qualification. Technologies should demonstrate concepts suitable for eventual operation in space environments, including relevant pressure and radiation levels, launch and impact stresses, and mission-specific temperature ranges. This subtopic targets advancement of quantum sensing concepts from early research stages (TRL 2-4) with clear paths toward flight demonstration. Please note that quantum atomic clocks and atomic interferometry should go to COSMO.6.T26B. Rydberg atom-based sensors should go to INSTALG.5.S26B. Superconducting detectors should go to INSTALG.4.S26B or COSMO.1.S26A based on wavelength.