Quantum Interface Controller for Electron Spin Resonance

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Frank Simon
• Subject Area: Hardware Systems and Architectures for Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Engineering Systems ; Analytical Chemistry
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 568944624

Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) is the tool of choice for studying systems with unpaired electrons, widely used in fields such as coordination chemistry, metalloproteins, and magnetic ions in solids. However, conventional ESR systems are expensive, inflexible, and rely heavily on specialized hardware for signal generation and processing. This project aims to modernize ESR technology by transferring the hardware costs to software development through the use of Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology, specifically employing RFSoC devices.By using FPGA-based systems, we will design a flexible and reconfigurable platform that first operates at Intermediate Frequency (IF). We will develop an Analog Front-End (AFE) system that interfaces with the ESR spectrometer. By utilizing an FPGA card to generate and digitize the IF, we can implement advanced signal processing, enabling enhanced flexibility and precision detection.At a second stage, the FPGA-ESR platform will operate directly at the microwave carrier frequency, eliminating the need for expensive, bulky hardware components such as mixers and oscillators. The RFSoC integration will allow for real-time, high-speed data acquisition and processing, reducing the need for conventional hardware while improving overall performance. Transitioning from fixed hardware to software-defined solutions will drastically lower initial costs, making ESR systems more adaptable, scalable, and future-proof.This approach will also improve signal fidelity compared to commercially available solutions, providing better sensitivity and precision for ESR applications. The platform will allow researchers to dynamically control and reconfigure experiments through its Python-based open-source API, making advanced ESR techniques more accessible while reducing long-term costs. This project will deliver a cutting-edge ESR system that retains high performance while being cost-effective, flexible, and sustainable for a wide range of researchers.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: France
• Cooperation Partner: Dr. Sylvain Bertaina