Diamond samples of defects with negative charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers are promising solid state spin sensors suitable for quantum information processing, high sensitive measurements of magnetic, electric and thermal fields in nanoscale. The diamond defect with a NV center is unique for its robust temperature-dependent zero field splitting Dgs of the triplet ground state. This property enables optical readout of electron spin states through manipulation of the ground triplet state using microwave resonance with Dgs from 100 K to about 600 K. Thus, prohibiting Dgs from unwanted external thermal disturbances is crucial for an accurate measurement using diamond NV sensors. Our observation demonstrates the existence of a prominent microwave heating effect on the diamond samples of NV centers. The effect is inevitable to shift Dgs and cause measurement errors. The temperature increment caused by the effect monotonically depends on the power and the duration of microwave irradiation. The effect is obvious with the microwave irradiation in the continuous mode and some pulse sequence modes, but is neglectable for the quantum lock-in XY8-N method.
Diamond samples of defects with negative charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers are promising solid state spin sensors suitable for quantum information processing, high sensitive measurements of magnetic, electric and thermal fields in nanoscale. The diamond defect with a NV center is unique for its robust temperature-dependent zero field splitting Dgs of the triplet ground state. This property enables optical readout of electron spin states through manipulation of the ground triplet state using microwave resonance with Dgs from 100 K to about 600 K. Thus, prohibiting Dgs from unwanted external thermal disturbances is crucial for an accurate measurement using diamond NV sensors. Our observation demonstrates the existence of a prominent microwave heating effect on the diamond samples of NV centers. The effect is inevitable to shift Dgs and cause measurement errors. The temperature increment caused by the effect monotonically depends on the power and the duration of microwave irradiation. The effect is obvious with the microwave irradiation in the continuous mode and some pulse sequence modes, but is neglectable for the quantum lock-in XY8-N method.
Among quantum sensors, the single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect in diamond has the highest sensitivity-to-size factor. For instance, a single-NV spin when used as a magnetometer could achieve sensitivities of the order of nT/Hz, while the dimensions of the sensor are merely atomic in size. The sensitivity is limited only by the photon shot noise. One method to boost the magnetometer sensitivity to pico-tesla scales is to use many NV defect centers as an ensemble sensor [Phys. Rev. X5, 041001 (2015)PRXHAE2160-330810.1103/PhysRevX.5.041001]. However, during the absorption-emission (fluorescence) optical cycles, the NV centers transfer a portion of the irradiation laser energy into phonons and heat the diamond matrix. This results in unintended fluorescence decrease, spin resonance lines shifts, and fluctuations. Hence, the advantages gained by packing a high density of NV centers are significantly reduced. Here we investigate the heat generation of ensemble NV centers in micrometer-sized diamond under 532 nm laser irradiation and its effects pertaining to sensing applications. These investigations help us to find strategies that mitigate the detrimental effects of heating and yet permits the use of ensemble NV defects for improved metrology applications.
The nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond is promising as an electron spin qubit due to its long-lived coherence and optical addressability. The ground state is a spin triplet with two levels $({m}_{s}=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1)$ degenerate at zero magnetic field. Polarization-selective microwave excitation is an attractive method to address the spin transitions independently since this allows operation down to zero magnetic field. Using a resonator designed to produce circularly polarized microwaves, we have investigated the polarization selection rules of the NV center. We first apply this technique to NV ensembles in [100]- and [111]-oriented samples. Next, we demonstrate an imaging technique, based on optical polarization dependence, which allows rapid identification of the orientations of many single NV centers. Finally, we test the microwave polarization selection rules of individual NV centers of known orientation.
The physical properties of diamond crystals, such as color or electrical conductivity, can be controlled via impurities. In particular, when doped with nitrogen, optically active nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV), can be induced. The center is an outstanding quantum spin system that enables, under ambient conditions, optical initialization, readout, and coherent microwave control with applications in sensing and quantum information. Under optical and radio frequency excitation, the Zeeman splitting of the degenerate states allows the quantitative measurement of external magnetic fields with high sensitivity. This study provides a pedagogical introduction to the properties of the NV centers as well as a step-by-step process to develop and test a simple magnetic quantum sensor based on color centers with significant potential for the development of highly compact multisensor systems.
As one of the most promising candidates of solid-state qubits, nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamonds have been paid much attention for experimental quantum information processings, such as their energy level structures characterized by microwave absorption probes. In this paper we develop a simplified steady-state spectral method to exactly solve the driven three-level atomic system for fitting the measured microwave absorptions of the NV centers in diamonds. Due to the energy level structures of the NV centers in diamonds which are controllable by applying external magnetic fields, the precision measurements of the ESR spectra of the NV centers in diamond can be used to precisely detect the applied magnetic fields with nanometer spatial scale resolutions. Our steady-state spectral simulations show that the Bz-component (parallel with the axis of the NV centers) of the applied magnetic fields causes the symmetric Zeeman shifts in the zero-field splitting levels, while the B⊥-component (perpendicular to the NV axis mainly) causes the asymmetric Zeeman shifts. Therefore, by exactly probing the steady-state Zeeman shift absorption spectra of the NV centers in diamonds the applied magnetic fields can be detected precisely, at least theoretically.
Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers in diamond are expected as highly sensitive magnetic sensors operable at room temperature. One major challenge in improving sensitivity is controlling the NV axis orientation. In diamond crystals, NV centers are typically randomly oriented along four crystallographic axes. Since only NV centers on a specific axis are utilized, NV centers on other axes act as fluorescence noise. Therefore, selectively forming NV centers along a single crystallographic axis is expected to enhance sensitivity. Perfectly oriented NV centers can be fabricated by nitrogen doping during chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth, however, achieving a high NV center density remains challenging. In contrast, a high NV center density can be achieved by electron-beam irradiation followed by post-annealing, although orientation control remains difficult. In this study, we attempted to control NV center orientation by applying microwave annealing after electron-beam irradiation. Generally, microwave irradiation of material induces heating via Joule, dielectric and magnetic losses. Diamond has negligible dielectric and magnetic losses, so a boron doped diamond layer was formed as conductive layer and microwave annealing was performed via Joule loss. Because the conductive layer is thin, an electric field is applied throughout the whole diamond, resulting in a drift current flowing across the diamond. We thought that by controlling this current in the [111] direction, it would be possible to preferentially form [111]-oriented NV centers.
The physical properties of diamond crystals, such as color or electrical conductivity, can be controlled via impurities.In particular, when doped with nitrogen and under certain conditions, optically active nitrogen-vacany centers (NV) can be induced.The center is an outstanding quantum spin system that enables, under ambient conditions, optical initialization, readout, and coherent microwave control with applications in sensing and quantum information.Under optical and radio frequency excitation, the Zeeman splitting of the degenerate states allows the quantitative measurement of external magnetic fields with high sensitivity.This study provides a pedagogical introduction to the properties of the NV centers as well as a step-by-step process to develop and test, a simple magnetic quantum sensor based on color centers with large potential for the development of highly compact multi-sensor systems.