Human cardiac measurements with diamond magnetometers

Omar M, Benke M, Zhang S, Zhang J, Wang Y, Kuebler M, Sharbati P, Rahimpour A, Gück A, Kapitonova M, Kadam D, René Izquierdo Geiser C, Haller J, Trautmann A, Jag-Lauber K, Rölver R, Nguyen TD, Gizzi L, Schweizer M, Abdelsayed M, Wickenbrock I, Edmonds AM, Markham M, Koss PA, Schnell O, Hofmann UG, Ball T, Beck J, Budker D, Wrachtrup J, Wickenbrock A (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Science Advances American Association for the Advancement of Science

Book Volume: 12

Pages Range: eaeg5281-

Journal Issue: 38

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aeg5281

Abstract

The heart produces small magnetic signals, but detecting them without touching the body and without heavy shielding equipment remains a major challenge. In this study, we demonstrate a noninvasive method to measure these signals using compact quantum sensors made from diamond. These sensors operate at room temperature and can detect extremely weak magnetic fields produced by the heart, even outside highly shielded environments. By averaging signals over many heartbeats and using noise suppression techniques, we successfully recorded clear magnetocardiography traces. Although current measurements require averaging, our results show a clear path toward real-time detection. We also explored a gradiometry protocol for unshielded noisy environments, paving the way for contactless cardiac detection in challenging clinical conditions. This work points toward a path for using quantum sensors in practical medical diagnostics of the heart and brain.

Authors with CRIS profile

Oliver Schnell Lehrstuhl für Neurochirurgie

Involved external institutions

GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH DE Germany (DE) Universität Stuttgart DE Germany (DE) Q.ANT DE Germany (DE) Fraunhofer-Institut für Produktionstechnik und Automatisierung (IPA) DE Germany (DE) Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) US United States (USA) (US) Element Six GB United Kingdom (GB) Fraunhofer-Institut für Physikalische Messtechnik (IPM) / Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM DE Germany (DE) Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Freiburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Omar, M., Benke, M., Zhang, S., Zhang, J., Wang, Y., Kuebler, M.,... Wickenbrock, A. (2026). Human cardiac measurements with diamond magnetometers. Science Advances, 12(38), eaeg5281-. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aeg5281

MLA:

Omar, Muhib, et al. "Human cardiac measurements with diamond magnetometers." Science Advances 12.38 (2026): eaeg5281-.

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