Core Insights - Northeastern University scientists have developed a topologically guided acoustic wave sensor capable of high-precision detection of micron-sized targets without reducing the sensor's size [1] - This advancement is expected to propel the development of nanoscale and quantum-scale sensing technologies, significantly impacting fields such as quantum computing and precision medicine [1] Group 1: Technology Development - The sensor is designed to detect smaller objects without decreasing the pixel size, addressing the common issue where performance and sensitivity decline as sensor size decreases [1] - The topologically guided acoustic wave sensor is comparable in size to a belt buckle and utilizes guided acoustic waves and a special state of matter known as topological interface states to detect minute targets like individual proteins or cancer cells [1] Group 2: Experimental Validation - In proof-of-concept experiments, the sensor successfully detected a low-power infrared laser target with a diameter of only 5 micrometers, which is approximately one-tenth the diameter of a human hair [1] - The experiments demonstrated the sensor's ability to clearly distinguish extremely weak signals from highly localized parameters [1]