We describe a real-time method to obtain normalized differential count rate signals from modulated systems with photon detection at single-photon count rates. The method is demonstrated with a real-time peak-locking and frequency control to track magnetic field using optically detected magnetic resonance of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. This procedure allows us to measure magnetic field continuously with sensitivity 4.1 μT/Hz(1/2) and to track magnetic field sweep rates up to 50 μT/s. The differential rate meter automates the processing of voltage pulse outputs from the photon detector, and provides noise levels on par with traditional photon counting methods using digital counters.
We describe a real-time method to obtain normalized differential count rate signals from modulated systems with photon detection at single-photon count rates. The method is demonstrated with a real-time peak-locking and frequency control to track magnetic field using optically detected magnetic resonance of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. This procedure allows us to measure magnetic field continuously with sensitivity 4.1 μT/Hz(1/2) and to track magnetic field sweep rates up to 50 μT/s. The differential rate meter automates the processing of voltage pulse outputs from the photon detector, and provides noise levels on par with traditional photon counting methods using digital counters.
We describe a real-time method to obtain normalized differential count rate signals from modulated systems with photon detection at single-photon count rates. The method is demonstrated with a real-time peak-locking and frequency control to track magnetic field using optically detected magnetic resonance of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. This procedure allows us to measure the magnetic field continuously with a sensitivity of 4.1 µT/Hz1/2 and to track magnetic field sweep rates up to 50 µT/s. The differential rate meter automates the processing of voltage pulse outputs from the photon detector and provides noise levels on par with traditional photon counting methods using digital counters.
While photoelectric detection of magnetic resonance (PDMR) can be applied to miniaturize nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center-based quantum sensors, real demonstration of PDMR-based magnetic field sensing remains as a distinctive challenge. To tackle this challenge, in this article, we fabricate diamond samples with electrodes and microwave antenna on the surface, and realize PDMR by detecting photocurrent in picoampere range via various lock-in amplifying modes. We obtain a theoretical and experimental sensitivity 397 nT/Hz and 921 nT/Hz of magnetic field detection in DC-10 Hz range with a laser intensity and microwave frequency modulation mode, respectively, and demonstrate for the first time, a real-time tracking of alternating magnetic field with a standard deviation of 1.5 uT. Furthermore, we investigate systematically the dependence of the PDMR contrast, linewidth and the sensitivity on the laser and microwave power, and find a perfect agreement with a master equation-based theory. Thus, our results represent a critical step forward in transitioning PDMR from a spectroscopic technique to a practical sensing modality.
A simple and convenient design enables real-time three-dimensional position tracking of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. The system consists entirely of commercially available components (a single-photon counter, a high-speed digital-to-analog converter, a phase-sensitive detector-based feedback device, and a piezo stage), eliminating the need for custom programming or rigorous optimization processes. With a large input range of counters and trackers combined with high sensitivity of single-photon counting, high-speed position tracking (upper bound recovery time of 0.9 s upon 250 nm of step-like positional shift) not only of bright ensembles, but also of low-photon-collection-efficiency single to few NV centers (down to 103 s−1) is possible. The tracking requires position modulation of only 10 nm, which allows simultaneous position tracking and pulsed measurements in the long term. Therefore, this tracking system enables measuring a single-spin magnetic resonance and Rabi oscillations at a very high resolution even without photon collection optimization. The system is widely applicable to various fields related to NV center quantum manipulation research such as NV optical trapping, NV tracking in fluid dynamics, and biological sensing using NV centers inside a biological cell.
In this work we present a compact and portable tabletop magnetometer that utilizes negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. The magnetometer is operated using a dual microwave resonance detection approach in combination with an optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) technique (mitigating drifts in results due to changes of the diamond temperature), capable of simultaneously exciting and registering two ODMR transitions. The experimentally measured magnetic field noise-floor is ≈2.3nTHz while the calculated shot-noise-limited magnetic field sensitivity is ≈585pTHz when excited with a continuous wave laser at 0.5~W.
These results pave the way for realizing a simple set-up magnetometer for precise single axis magnetic field measurements for example for accurate electric current measurements for stabilization purposes and magnetic communication applications.
Ensembles of nitrogen vacancy (NV) defect centers in diamond have attracted considerable interest for fundamental studies and applications in quantum sensing and quantum information processing. Pulsed optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) and related pulse-sequence protocols are essential for the coherent manipulation and characterization of the NV spins. Here, we introduce a novel framework for analyzing pulsed ODMR data acquisition and subsequent processing from the perspective of digital signal processing (DSP). As a central part of this approach, we model the data processing procedure as an effective digital bandpass filter that suppresses a broad range of noise spectral components, thereby reducing the noise in the processed data. This analysis identifies an intermediate frequency (IF) band whose spectral contribution to this noise is maximum. The proposed DSP-based analysis is experimentally validated using an oscilloscope based acquisition method, and is also applied to optimize key measurement parameters. In particular, the introduction of an analog low pass filter in the signal path is shown to remove aliasing of noise into the IF band, and thus improve signal quality. Our results also establish the oscilloscope as a viable data acquisition device for pulsed ODMR, with practical advantages including on-board waveform averaging, real-time signal visualization, and simplified system debugging. The proposed framework can be extended to other detection techniques and material platforms for ODMR.
The nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond have exhibited excellent sensing capabilities. By applying the resonance frequency tracking (RFT) method in a closed-loop system, magnetic-field measurements with a wide dynamic range have been demonstrated. However, the previous strategies employ phase-sensitive control signals, which degrade control robustness and reduce tracking rates, thereby impeding real-time measurements. Here, an amplitude–phase joint discrimination strategy is proposed to improve robustness, overcoming the limitations of existing strategies that are sensitive to phase delays in fluorescence signal transmission. Moreover, to improve the tracking speed, a customized device, integrating a fast-response lock-in amplifier (LIA) and a frequency-agile microwave (MW) source, is reported. The LIA achieves a response time as short as 20 μs, while the MW source reaches a frequency switching time of 1 μs. The proposed strategy and customized device are implemented and evaluated on an all-fiber quantum current sensing system. Test results show that the system achieves a maximum sampling rate of 20 kHz, with excellent linearity (a linear deviation of 0.37% over the range of 0-120 A) and high accuracy (a measurement error of 0.73% at 80 A), making it promising for a wide range of high-speed quantum measurement scenarios.