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Low Distortion Arbitrary Radio Signal Sensing with a Quantum Sensor

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 Nov 7, 2021• 0 citations
OpenAlex

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 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/Hz$^{1/2}$ 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.

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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.

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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.

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A Solid-State Microwave Magnetometer with Picotesla-Level Sensitivity

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Quantum sensing of low-frequency magnetic fields using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center ensembles has been demonstrated in multiple experiments with sensitivities as low as $\sim$1 pT/$\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$. To date, however, demonstrations of high-frequency magnetometry in the GHz regime with NV diamond are orders of magnitude less sensitive, above the nT/$\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$ level. Here we adapt for microwave frequencies techniques that have enabled high-performance, low-frequency quantum sensors. Using a custom-grown NV-enriched diamond combined with a noise cancellation scheme designed for high-frequency sensing, we demonstrate a Rabi-sequence-based magnetometer able to detect microwave fields near 2.87 GHz with a record sensitivity of 3.4 pT/$\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$. We demonstrate both amplitude and phase sensing and project tunability over a 300 MHz frequency range. This result increases the viability of NV ensembles to serve as microwave circuitry imagers and near-field probes of antennas.

arXiv:2206.15440•Jun 30, 2022•1 citation
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.
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 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.
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.
Developing high performance portable sensors is of significant importance for both terrestrial and satellite communications, with quantum sensors offering potential advantages in sensitivity and bandwidth. The nitrogen vacancy center in diamond is a popular quantum sensing platform for its relative simplicity and wide range of acceptable operating conditions, but suffers a limited instantaneous bandwidth due to the narrow linewidth of the spin resonance. In this work, we first present a magnetic quantum sensing scheme utilizing heterodyne mixing with strong optical and microwave driving, achieving MHz-scale instantaneous bandwidth with a sensitivity of 548  pT/Hz548 \; \text{pT/}\sqrt{\text{Hz}}548pT/Hz​ in an active diamond volume of $ 2.5\times 10^{-4} \; \text{mm}^3$ with 2×10112 \times 10^{11}2×1011 NV centers. We then demonstrate expansion of the sensing bandwidth by employing a strong magnetic gradient and many individually modulated microwave control fields, expanding the single resonance bandwidth to 48 MHz with a peak sensitivity of 8.5  nT/Hz8.5 \; \text{nT/}\sqrt{\text{Hz}}8.5nT/Hz​.
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.
Quantum sensing of low-frequency magnetic fields using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center ensembles has been demonstrated in multiple experiments with sensitivities as low as $\sim1pT/1 pT/1pT/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}.Todate,however,demonstrationsofhigh−frequencymagnetometryintheGHzregimewithNVdiamondareordersofmagnitudelesssensitive,abovethenT/. To date, however, demonstrations of high-frequency magnetometry in the GHz regime with NV diamond are orders of magnitude less sensitive, above the nT/.Todate,however,demonstrationsofhigh−frequencymagnetometryintheGHzregimewithNVdiamondareordersofmagnitudelesssensitive,abovethenT/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$ level. Here we adapt for microwave frequencies techniques that have enabled high-performance, low-frequency quantum sensors. Using a custom-grown NV-enriched diamond combined with a noise cancellation scheme designed for high-frequency sensing, we demonstrate a Rabi-sequence-based magnetometer able to detect microwave fields near 2.87 GHz with a record sensitivity of 3.4 pT/Hz\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}Hz​. We demonstrate both amplitude and phase sensing and project tunability over a 300 MHz frequency range. This result increases the viability of NV ensembles to serve as microwave circuitry imagers and near-field probes of antennas.