Quantum Optics Seminar by Sarang S. Dalal

Quantum sensing the beginnings of human brain function in the womb

Fetal magnetoencephalography (MEG) measures the minute magnetic signals generated by the developing fetal brain using sensors placed on the mother’s abdomen. Until recently, achieving the required femtoTesla sensitivity was only possible with liquid‑helium–cooled SQUID sensors. Due to their high cost and specialized geometry, only two such fetal MEG systems exist worldwide.

The emergence of optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) is now transforming the field. These quantum sensors are approximately the size of a Lego brick and operate near room temperature, enabling flexible placement anywhere on the body. Our group was the first to demonstrate that OPMs placed on the pregnant abdomen can reliably measure fetal cardiac and brain signals. We are currently advancing this technology toward applications in prenatal diagnostics and developmental neuroscience.

Short Bio

Sarang Dalal is Professor at the Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience at Aarhus University, where he leads the Neuroelectromagnetic Oscillations (NEMO) Lab. His research focuses on using quantum magnetometers to noninvasively measure human brain activity. He received his PhD in Bioengineering from UCSF/Berkeley, followed by postdoctoral training in Lyon, France, and a group leader position in Konstanz, Germany. Prof. Dalal has pioneered novel applications of optically pumped magnetometers for measuring neural signals from the adult brain and retina, and—supported by a Lundbeck Ascending Investigator Grant—now from the developing fetal brain