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China’s researchers demo handheld quantum magnetometer on subway

By Drooid · Sep 25, 2026, 6:34 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Chinese researchers demonstrated a handheld quantum magnetometer by tracking a subway train beneath a city street.
Peng Xinhua and colleagues at the University of Science and Technology of China developed the device.
The study was published on September 14 in Acta Physica Sinica.
The pencil-sized instrument consumes five watts and isolates magnetic disturbances from the train, recording braking, stop, and departure.

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Story summary

Chinese researchers demonstrated a handheld quantum magnetometer by tracking a subway train beneath a city street.
Peng Xinhua and colleagues at the University of Science and Technology of China developed the device.
The study was published on September 14 in Acta Physica Sinica.
The pencil-sized instrument consumes five watts and isolates magnetic disturbances from the train, recording braking, stop, and departure.