CARTAGENA / Use diamonds to improve magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of cancer

Source: UPCT

The famous affirmation that gave name to the popular song of Marylin Monroe has been transformed at present in «the diamonds are the best friend of the scientists». The diamonds have allowed researchers from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) to develop a technique for analyzing the signal obtained by small devices formed by diamonds with impurities, which improves the resolution of magnetic resonances, fundamental for the diagnosis of diseases. This research by Javier Prior and Santiago Casado, from the Quantum Technology group, has been published today by Physical Review Letters, the scientific journal with the greatest international impact on Physics.

Javier Prior explains that diamonds used in quantum technology improve current magnetic resonators. This technology, which is beginning to be used in hospitals, improves the resolution of numerous types of clinical and medical analyzes, from measurements of tumor markers to magnetic resonances. It even allows, for the first time, to observe the movement of a tumor with great precision.

Physical Review Letters has published the most relevant articles of winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics, such as Einstein, Schrödinger or Gell-Mann, as well as other outstanding research in this field, as reflected in the magazine’s website. It has an impact of 8.8, being the most prestigious physics magazine.

The research is framed in the field of quantum metrology, which uses the sensitivity of a quantum system to measure physical magnitudes with a precision unattainable with current techniques. The research has counted on the collaboration of the group of researcher Alex Retzker, of Hebrew University (Jerusalem) and of the experimental group of the University of Ulm, directed by Fedor Jelezko. The work has been partially funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain and the Seneca Foundation, Agency of Science and Technology of the Region of Murcia.

The European Union has dedicated 1,000 million euros to finance works in the field of Quantum Technology in the last five years. Quantum metrology is thought to transform science and technology in the next decade.

Javier Prior is the co-founder and organizer of one of the most important meetings in the field, New Trends in Complex Quantum Systems Dynamics. In this forum, the main research groups of the world present their latest advances. The next edition will be held in Venice from 9 to 12 April.