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arXiv:2111.04100 · Nature Communications

Quantum-assisted distortion-free audio signal sensing

Chen Zhang, Durga Bhaktavatsala Rao Dasari, Matthias Widmann, Jonas Meinel, Vadim Vorobyov, Polina V. Kapitanova, Elizaveta A. Nenasheva, Kazuo Torii Nakamura, Hitoshi Sumiya, Shinobu Onoda, Junichi Isoya, Jörg Wrachtrup

Published Aug 8, 2022• 16 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Quantum sensors are known for their high sensitivity in sensing applications. However, this sensitivity often comes with severe restrictions on other parameters which are also important. Examples are that in measurements of arbitrary signals, limitation in linear dynamic range could introduce distortions in magnitude and phase of the signal. High frequency resolution is another important feature for reconstructing unknown signals. Here, we demonstrate a distortion-free quantum sensing protocol that combines a quantum phase-sensitive detection with heterodyne readout. We present theoretical and experimental investigations using nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond, showing the capability of reconstructing audio frequency signals with an extended linear dynamic range and high frequency resolution. Melody and speech based signals are used for demonstrating the features. The methods could broaden the horizon for quantum sensors towards applications, e.g. telecommunication in challenging environment, where low-distortion measurements are required at multiple frequency bands within a limited volume.

DOI
10.1038/s41467-022-32150-1

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Quantum sensors are known for their high sensitivity in sensing applications. However, this sensitivity often comes with severe restrictions on other parameters which are also important. Examples are that in measurements of arbitrary signals, limitation in linear dynamic range could introduce distortions in magnitude and phase of the signal. High frequency resolution is another important feature for reconstructing unknown signals. Here, we demonstrate a distortion-free quantum sensing protocol that combines a quantum phase-sensitive detection with heterodyne readout. We present theoretical and experimental investigations using nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond, showing the capability of reconstructing audio frequency signals with an extended linear dynamic range and high frequency resolution. Melody and speech based signals are used for demonstrating the features. The methods could broaden the horizon for quantum sensors towards applications, e.g. telecommunication in challenging environment, where low-distortion measurements are required at multiple frequency bands within a limited volume.
Abstract Quantum sensors are keeping the cutting-edge sensitivities in metrology. However, for high-sensitive measurements of arbitrary signals, limitations in linear dynamic range could introduce distortions when sensing the frequency, magnitude and phase of unknown signals. Here, we overcome these limitations with advanced sensing protocol that combines quantum phase-sensitive detection with the heterodyne readout. We present theoretical and experimental investigations using nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond, showing the ability to sense audio signals with a 98 dB linear dynamic range, a 31 pT/Hz1/2 sensitivity, and arbitrary frequency resolution. Further, we perform the quantum-assisted distortion-free audio signal (melody, speech) sensing with high fidelity. The methods developed here could broaden the horizon for quantum sensors towards applications in telecommunication, where high-fidelity and low-distortion at multiple frequency bands within small sensing volumes are required.
Quantum sensors are keeping the cutting-edge sensitivities in metrology. However, for high-sensitive measurements of arbitrary signals, limitations in linear dynamic range could introduce distortions when sensing the frequency, magnitude and phase of unknown signals. Here, we overcome these limitations with advanced sensing protocol that combines quantum phase-sensitive detection with heterodyne readout. We present theoretical and experimental investigations using nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond, showing the ability to sense radio signals with a 98 dB linear dynamic range, a 31 pT/Hz1/2^{1/2}1/2 sensitivity, and arbitrary frequency resolution. Further, we use the sensor as a quantum radio receiver to show the capability in detecting audio signals (melody piece, speech) with high fidelity. The methods developed here could broaden the horizon for quantum sensors towards applications in telecommunication, where high-fidelity and low-distortion at multiple frequency bands within small sensing volumes are required.
Quantum sensors such as spin defects in diamond have achieved excellent performance by combining high sensitivity with spatial resolution.Unfortunately, these sensors can only detect signal fields with frequency in a few accessible ranges, typically low frequencies up to the experimentally achievable control field amplitudes and a narrow window around the sensors' resonance frequency.Here, we develop and demonstrate a technique for sensing arbitrary-frequency signals by using the sensor qubit as a quantum frequency mixer, enabling a variety of sensing applications.The technique leverages nonlinear effects in periodically driven (Floquet) quantum systems to achieve quantum frequency mixing of the signal and an applied bias ac field.The frequency-mixed field can be detected using well-developed sensing techniques such as Rabi and CPMG with the only additional requirement of the bias field.We further show that the frequency mixing can distinguish vectorial components of an oscillating signal field, thus enabling arbitrary-frequency vector magnetometry.We experimentally demonstrate this protocol with nitrogenvacancy centers in diamond to sense a 150-MHz signal field, proving the versatility of the quantum mixer sensing technique.
Quantum sensing affects many fields of science, both fundamental and applied, since a high spatial resolution in combination with high sensitivities enables closeup investigation of interesting phenomena via for example spin-wave measurements [1]. One example quantum sensor that offers a high resolution due to its atomic size and works under ambient conditions is the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centre. Two quantum resources separate quantum sensing from classical sensing: coherence and entanglement. The former is already basic in many known detection protocols. However, the latter has so far not been used efficiently with any quantum sensor. This is an indication of the major challenge ahead, but the potential result is a significant enhancement of the sensitivity, further increasing the possibilities with quantum sensors.
Diamond quantum sensors are sensitive to weak microwave magnetic fields resonant to the spin transitions. However, the spectral resolution in such protocols is ultimately limited by the sensor lifetime. Here, we demonstrate a heterodyne detection method for microwaves (MW) leading to a lifetime independent spectral resolution in the GHz range. We reference the MW signal to a local oscillator by generating the initial superposition state from a coherent source. Experimentally, we achieve a spectral resolution below 1 Hz for a 4 GHz signal far below the sensor lifetime limit of kilohertz. Furthermore, we show control over the interaction of the MW-field with the two-level system by applying dressing fields, pulsed Mollow absorption and Floquet dynamics under strong longitudinal radio frequency drive. While pulsed Mollow absorption leads to improved sensitivity, the Floquet dynamics allow robust control, independent from the system's resonance frequency. Our work is important for future studies in sensing weak microwave signals in a wide frequency range with high spectral resolution.
Diamond based quantum sensing is a fast-emerging field with both scientific and technological significance. The nitrogen–vacancy (NV) center, a crystal defect in diamond, has become a unique object for microwave sensing applications due to its excellent stability, long spin coherence time, and optical properties at ambient condition. In this work, we use diamond NV center as atomic receiver to demodulate on–off keying (OOK) signal transmitted in broad frequency range (2 GHz–14 GHz in a portable benchtop setup). We proposed a unique algorithm of voltage discrimination and demonstrated audio signal transceiving with fidelity above 99%. This diamond receiver is attached to the end of a tapered fiber, having all optic nature, which will find important applications in data transmission tasks under extreme conditions such as strong electromagnetic interference, high temperatures, and high corrosion.