The diamond anvil cell-based high-pressure technique is a unique tool for creating new states of matter and for understanding the physics underlying some exotic phenomena. In situ sensing of spin and charge properties under high pressure is crucially important but remains technically challenging. While the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond is a promising quantum sensor under extreme conditions, its spin dynamics and the quantum control of its spin states under high pressure remain elusive. In this study, we demonstrate coherent control, spin relaxation, and spin dephasing measurements for ensemble NV centers up to 32.8 GPa. With this in situ quantum sensor, we investigate the pressure-induced magnetic phase transition of a micron-size permanent magnet Nd 2 Fe 14B sample in a diamond anvil cell, with a spatial resolution of ∼2 μm, and sensitivity of ∼20 μT/Hz 1/2. This scheme could be generalized to measure other parameters such as temperature, pressure and their gradients under extreme conditions. This will be beneficial for frontier research of condensed matter physics and geophysics.
The diamond anvil cell-based high-pressure technique is a unique tool for creating new states of matter and for understanding the physics underlying some exotic phenomena. In situ sensing of spin and charge properties under high pressure is crucially important but remains technically challenging. While the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond is a promising quantum sensor under extreme conditions, its spin dynamics and the quantum control of its spin states under high pressure remain elusive. In this study, we demonstrate coherent control, spin relaxation, and spin dephasing measurements for ensemble NV centers up to 32.8 GPa. With this in situ quantum sensor, we investigate the pressure-induced magnetic phase transition of a micron-size permanent magnet Nd 2 Fe 14B sample in a diamond anvil cell, with a spatial resolution of ∼2 μm, and sensitivity of ∼20 μT/Hz 1/2. This scheme could be generalized to measure other parameters such as temperature, pressure and their gradients under extreme conditions. This will be beneficial for frontier research of condensed matter physics and geophysics.
When high static pressure is applied to a material, the arrangement of its atoms and electrons can dramatically change to allow higher density, thus leading to the creation of new phases or modifying electronic and magnetic properties of solids. Pressures of tens of kilobars (gigapascals) or even megabars can be achieved in laboratories using Diamond Anvil Cells (DACs), at the expense of working with samples of minute size. Recent studies have claimed to have uncovered materials, super-hydrides, retaining superconductivity close to room temperature under extreme pressure conditions. However, performing reliable measurements of the hallmarks of superconductivity on these samples synthesized at high-pressure is remarkably challenging, sometimes leading to controversial results. In this thesis, we chose to pursue the development of a new high-pressure optical magnetic measurement method based on the adaptation of a mature quantum technology to the DAC: Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers of diamond. We fabricate ensembles of these color centers inside the tip of a diamond anvil, using them as local quantum magnetic probes based on their spin-dependent photoluminescence properties. We show that NV centers can be used to spatially map the Meissner effect in the presence of a cuprate superconductor at high pressure and record the sample's critical temperature evolution with pressure up to 31 GPa. We then systematically study the NV centers' magnetic sensing capabilities at high pressure, identifying non-hydrostatic anvil stress as a limitation above 40 to 50 GPa. Finally, we propose an anvil micro-structuring strategy lifting this constraint and enabling efficient NV magnetometry at least up to 130 GPa, paving the way toward a future settlement of the super-hydride dispute by this new diagnosis method.
Pressure has been established as a powerful way of tuning material properties and studying various exotic quantum phases. Nonetheless, measurements under pressure are no trivial matter. To ensure a stable pressure environment, several experimental restrictions must be imposed including the limited size of a sample chamber. These have created difficulties in assembling high-pressure devices and conducting measurements. Hence, novel sensing methods that are robust and compatible with high-pressure devices under pressure are highly in demand. In this review, we discuss the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond as a versatile quantum sensor under pressure. The excellent sensitivity and superior resolution of the NV center enable exciting developments in recent years. The NV center has great potential in sensing under pressure, especially beneficial to magnetic-related measurements.
Extreme conditions, such as ultra-low temperatures, high pressures, and strong magnetic fields, are critical to producing and studying exotic states of matter. To measure physical properties under extreme conditions, the advanced sensing schemes are required. As a promising quantum sensor, the diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center can detect magnetic field, electronic field, pressure, and temperature with high sensitivity. Considering its nanoscale spatial resolution and ultra-wide working range, the diamond quantum sensing can play an important role in frontier studies involving extreme conditions. This paper reviews the spin and optical properties of diamond NV center under extreme conditions, including low temperature, high temperature, zero field, strong magnetic fields, and high pressures. The opportunities and challenges of diamond quantum sensing under extreme conditions are discussed. The basic knowledge of spin-based quantum sensing and its applications under extreme conditions are also covered.
The integration of Nitrogen-Vacancy color centers into diamond anvil cells has opened the door to quantum sensing at megabar pressures. Despite a multitude of experimental demonstrations and applications ranging from quantum materials to geophysics, a detailed microscopic understanding of how stress affects the NV center remains lacking. In this work, using a combination of first principles calculations as well as high-pressure NV experiments, we develop a complete description of the NV's optical properties under general stress conditions. In particular, our ab initio calculations reveal the complex behavior of the NV's inter-system crossing rates under stresses that both preserve and break the defect's symmetry. Crucially, our proposed framework immediately resolves a number of open questions in the field, including: (i) the microscopic origin of the observed contrast-enhancement in (111)-oriented anvils, and (ii) the surprising observation of NV contrast-inversion in certain high-pressure regimes. Our work lays the foundation for optimizing the performance of NV high-pressure sensors by controlling the local stress environment, and more generally, suggests that symmetry-breaking stresses can be utilized as a novel tuning knob for generic solid-state spin defects.
Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers in diamond have been established as exceptionally versatile probes for quantum technologies from sensing to simulation.Owing to the versatility of diamond fabrication, NVs can be integrated into probes with nanoscale resolution and superb sensitivity.\nHowever, because the diamond is host to many other types of defects, the local environment of the NV is unique for each NV, which poses challenges for any devices instrumenting NVs.\nThis thesis contributes to the future of NV technologies along two essential directions.\nFirst, we work towards a more complete understanding of the local charge and strain environments of the NV.\nIn addition to permitting the calibration of these effects for NV probes, we suggest potential uses for the local charges and strain that had previously been considered hindrances.\nSecond, we develop new technologies for NV sensing and simulation.\nOur work integrating NVs into diamond anvil cells opens the door to detecting high pressure phenomena using the NVs as all-in-one sensors.\nFinally, our study of the coherence regimes of the local defect environment of the NV is a step towards versatile quantum simulation in dimensions lower than three.
Single qubit in solid-state materials recently emerges as a versatile platform for quantum information. Among them, the nitrogen vacancy (NV) centre in diamond has become a powerful tool in quantum sensing for detecting various physics parameters, including electric and magnetic fields, temperature, force, strain, with ultimate precision and resolutions. It has been widely used in different conditions, from samples in ambient to samples in ultra-high pressure and low temperature. It can detect quantum phase transitions as well as neuron activities. Here we give a general review on both the physics of the sensing mechanism and protocols and applications.