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Laser Threshold Magnetometry with a Second Active Medium for High-Sensitivity Magnetic-Field Detection

Lukas Lindner, Yves Rottstaedt, Florian Schall, Janina Schindler, Takeshi Ohshima, Alexander M. Zaitsev, Roman Bek, Marcel Rattunde, Rüdiger Quay, Jan Jeske

Published Jan 1, 2026• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

We present two-media NV-diamond laser threshold magnetometry using a VECSEL gain medium which compensates cavity losses, demonstrating a magnetic-fielddependent laser threshold, and deriving a shot-noise-limited sensitivity of 49pT/√Hz through an improved shot-noise sensitivity formula.

Related papers

Two-media laser threshold magnetometry: A magnetic-field-dependent laser threshold

Yves Rottstaedt, Lukas Lindner, Florian Schall +9 more

Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond are a promising platform for high-precision magnetometry. In contrast to the use of spontaneous emission in a number of NV-magnetometers, laser threshold magnetometry exploits stimulated emission of NV centers by placing an NV-doped diamond inside an optical cavity. The NV laser system is predicted to reach a high magnetic-field-dependent contrast and coherent signal strength, leading to an improved magnetic field sensitivity combined with high linearity. Here, we consider a two-media setup where the cavity additionally includes a vertical external cavity surface emitting a laser. This optically active material compensates cavity losses at 750 nm while still allowing for magnetic-field-dependent effects from the NV-diamond. We demonstrate a magnetic-field-dependent laser threshold and investigate the effects of pump laser induced absorption of the diamond. The experimental data are supported by an analytical simulation based on a rate model. Furthermore, we derive a generalized formula to compute the shot-noise-limited magnetic field sensitivity in the regime of high contrast, yielding 49.07(0.33)pT/Hz for the present setup. Simulations with an optimized NV-diamond suggest that values down to 4.9fT/Hz are possible.

arXiv:2504.08466•APL Photonics•Aug 1, 2025•0 citations

VECSEL-assisted laser threshold magnetometry with nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond

Lukas Lindner, Yves Rottstaedt, Florian Schall +7 more

Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond can be used as a highly sensitive sensor for magnetic fields. One concept to reach the fT/sqrt(Hz) regime is laser threshold magnetometry (LTM). In this talk, we present a self-sustainable, magnetic field-dependent cw NV laser system. To achieve this, we place the NV-diamond within the external cavity of a red VECSEL. When the NV-diamond is pumped, we observe a decrease of the pump power at laser threshold of the VECSEL while the cavity output increases by up to 10%. We demonstrate a strong magnetic-field dependence of the laser threshold as a function of the VECSEL pump power. Our results demonstrate a practical concept for self-sustainable LTM devices based on NV-gain.

•Mar 21, 2025•0 citations

Laser threshold magnetometry with a combined laser diode, nitrogen-vacancy center cavity

Lukas Lindner, Yves Rottstaedt, Florian Schall +14 more

Nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV) in diamond are promising quantum systems for magnetic field sensing. The sensitivity and the linearity of such a quantum sensor can be greatly improved by using stimulated emission of the NV centers in the concept of laser threshold magnetometry (LTM), which is projected to reach the fT/sqrt(Hz) regime. Previous implementations of NV centers in optical cavities relied on external seed lasers, pulsed operation, or sensing via NVabsorption. In our work, we combine the NV centers with a second gain medium, a laser diode, within the same cavity, achieving self-sustainable continuous-wave lasing. This approach compensates the intrinsic losses of the cavity and the diamond, through a fixed additional gain below the threshold of the laser system. A continuous-wave laser threshold and a linewidth narrowing is observed with increasing pump power on the NV centers of the combined laser system. An improved laser system shows a magnetic field-dependent laser threshold, which is the basis for improved-sensitivity NV magnetometry via LTM.

Optical and Quantum Sensing and Precision Metrology II•Mar 19, 2025•0 citations

Laser threshold magnetometry

Jan Jeske, Jared H. Cole, Andrew D. Greentree

We propose a new type of sensor, which uses diamond containing the optically active nitrogen-vacancy (NV − ) centres as a laser medium. The magnetometer can be operated at room-temperature and generates light that can be readily fibre coupled, thereby permitting use in industrial applications and remote sensing. By combining laser pumping with a radio-frequency Rabi-drive field, an external magnetic field changes the fluorescence of the NV − centres. We use this change in fluorescence level to push the laser above threshold, turning it on with an intensity controlled by the external magnetic field, which provides a coherent amplification of the readout signal with very high contrast. This mechanism is qualitatively different from conventional NV − –based magnetometers which use fluorescence measurements, based on incoherent photon emission. We term our approach laser threshold magnetometer (LTM). We predict that an NV − –based LTM with a volume of 1 mm 3 can achieve shot-noise limited dc sensitivity of 1.86 fT and ac sensitivity of 3.97 fT .

arXiv:1410.6239•New Journal of Physics•Jan 8, 2016•58 citations

Absorptive laser threshold magnetometry: combining visible diamond Raman lasers and nitrogen-vacancy centres

Sarath Raman Nair, Lachlan J. Rogers, David James Spence +5 more

AbstractWe propose a high-sensitivity magnetometry scheme based on a diamond Raman laser with visible pump absorption by an ensemble of coherently microwave driven negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy centres (NV−) in the same diamond crystal. The NV− centres’ absorption and emission are spin-dependent. We show how the varying absorption of the NV− centres changes the Raman laser output. A shift in the diamond Raman laser threshold and output occurs with the external magnetic field and microwave driving. We develop a theoretical framework with steady-state solutions to describe the effects of coherently driven NV− centres including the charge state switching between NV− and its neutral charge state NV0 in a diamond Raman laser. We discuss that such a laser working at the threshold can be employed for magnetic field sensing. In contrast to previous studies on NV− magnetometry with visible laser absorption, the laser threshold magnetometry method is expected to have low technical noise, due to low background light in the measurement signal. For magnetic-field sensing, we project a shot-noise limited DC sensitivity of a few pT /Hz in a well-calibrated cavity with realistic parameters. This sensor employs the broad visible absorption of NV− centres and unlike previous laser threshold magnetometry proposals it does not rely on active NV− centre lasing or an infrared laser medium at the specific wavelength of the NV− centre’s infrared absorption line.

•Jun 21, 2021•12 citations

Dual-media laser system: Nitrogen vacancy diamond and red semiconductor laser

Lukas Lindner, Felix A. Hahl, Tingpeng Luo +11 more

Diamond is a potential host material for laser applications due to its exceptional thermal properties, ultrawide bandgap, and color centers, which promise gain across the visible spectrum. More recently, coherent laser methods offer improved sensitivity for magnetometry. However, diamond fabrication is difficult in comparison to other crystalline matrices, and many optical loss channels are not yet understood. Here, we demonstrate a continuous-wave laser threshold as a function of the pump intensity on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers. To achieve this, we constructed a laser cavity with both an NV diamond medium and an intracavity antireflection-coated diode laser. This dual-medium approach compensates intrinsic losses of the cavity by providing a fixed additional gain below threshold of the diode laser. We observe a continuous-wave laser threshold of the laser system and linewidth narrowing with increasing green pump power on the NV centers. Our results are a major development toward coherent approaches to magnetometry.

Science Advances•Sep 27, 2024•12 citations
Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond are a promising platform for high-precision magnetometry. In contrast to the use of spontaneous emission in a number of NV-magnetometers, laser threshold magnetometry exploits stimulated emission of NV centers by placing an NV-doped diamond inside an optical cavity. The NV laser system is predicted to reach a high magnetic-field-dependent contrast and coherent signal strength, leading to an improved magnetic field sensitivity combined with high linearity. Here, we consider a two-media setup where the cavity additionally includes a vertical external cavity surface emitting a laser. This optically active material compensates cavity losses at 750 nm while still allowing for magnetic-field-dependent effects from the NV-diamond. We demonstrate a magnetic-field-dependent laser threshold and investigate the effects of pump laser induced absorption of the diamond. The experimental data are supported by an analytical simulation based on a rate model. Furthermore, we derive a generalized formula to compute the shot-noise-limited magnetic field sensitivity in the regime of high contrast, yielding 49.07(0.33)pT/Hz for the present setup. Simulations with an optimized NV-diamond suggest that values down to 4.9fT/Hz are possible.
Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond can be used as a highly sensitive sensor for magnetic fields. One concept to reach the fT/sqrt(Hz) regime is laser threshold magnetometry (LTM). In this talk, we present a self-sustainable, magnetic field-dependent cw NV laser system. To achieve this, we place the NV-diamond within the external cavity of a red VECSEL. When the NV-diamond is pumped, we observe a decrease of the pump power at laser threshold of the VECSEL while the cavity output increases by up to 10%. We demonstrate a strong magnetic-field dependence of the laser threshold as a function of the VECSEL pump power. Our results demonstrate a practical concept for self-sustainable LTM devices based on NV-gain.
Nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV) in diamond are promising quantum systems for magnetic field sensing. The sensitivity and the linearity of such a quantum sensor can be greatly improved by using stimulated emission of the NV centers in the concept of laser threshold magnetometry (LTM), which is projected to reach the fT/sqrt(Hz) regime. Previous implementations of NV centers in optical cavities relied on external seed lasers, pulsed operation, or sensing via NVabsorption. In our work, we combine the NV centers with a second gain medium, a laser diode, within the same cavity, achieving self-sustainable continuous-wave lasing. This approach compensates the intrinsic losses of the cavity and the diamond, through a fixed additional gain below the threshold of the laser system. A continuous-wave laser threshold and a linewidth narrowing is observed with increasing pump power on the NV centers of the combined laser system. An improved laser system shows a magnetic field-dependent laser threshold, which is the basis for improved-sensitivity NV magnetometry via LTM.
We propose a new type of sensor, which uses diamond containing the optically active nitrogen-vacancy (NV − ) centres as a laser medium. The magnetometer can be operated at room-temperature and generates light that can be readily fibre coupled, thereby permitting use in industrial applications and remote sensing. By combining laser pumping with a radio-frequency Rabi-drive field, an external magnetic field changes the fluorescence of the NV − centres. We use this change in fluorescence level to push the laser above threshold, turning it on with an intensity controlled by the external magnetic field, which provides a coherent amplification of the readout signal with very high contrast. This mechanism is qualitatively different from conventional NV − –based magnetometers which use fluorescence measurements, based on incoherent photon emission. We term our approach laser threshold magnetometer (LTM). We predict that an NV − –based LTM with a volume of 1 mm 3 can achieve shot-noise limited dc sensitivity of 1.86 fT and ac sensitivity of 3.97 fT .
AbstractWe propose a high-sensitivity magnetometry scheme based on a diamond Raman laser with visible pump absorption by an ensemble of coherently microwave driven negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy centres (NV−) in the same diamond crystal. The NV− centres’ absorption and emission are spin-dependent. We show how the varying absorption of the NV− centres changes the Raman laser output. A shift in the diamond Raman laser threshold and output occurs with the external magnetic field and microwave driving. We develop a theoretical framework with steady-state solutions to describe the effects of coherently driven NV− centres including the charge state switching between NV− and its neutral charge state NV0 in a diamond Raman laser. We discuss that such a laser working at the threshold can be employed for magnetic field sensing. In contrast to previous studies on NV− magnetometry with visible laser absorption, the laser threshold magnetometry method is expected to have low technical noise, due to low background light in the measurement signal. For magnetic-field sensing, we project a shot-noise limited DC sensitivity of a few pT /Hz in a well-calibrated cavity with realistic parameters. This sensor employs the broad visible absorption of NV− centres and unlike previous laser threshold magnetometry proposals it does not rely on active NV− centre lasing or an infrared laser medium at the specific wavelength of the NV− centre’s infrared absorption line.
Diamond is a potential host material for laser applications due to its exceptional thermal properties, ultrawide bandgap, and color centers, which promise gain across the visible spectrum. More recently, coherent laser methods offer improved sensitivity for magnetometry. However, diamond fabrication is difficult in comparison to other crystalline matrices, and many optical loss channels are not yet understood. Here, we demonstrate a continuous-wave laser threshold as a function of the pump intensity on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers. To achieve this, we constructed a laser cavity with both an NV diamond medium and an intracavity antireflection-coated diode laser. This dual-medium approach compensates intrinsic losses of the cavity by providing a fixed additional gain below threshold of the diode laser. We observe a continuous-wave laser threshold of the laser system and linewidth narrowing with increasing green pump power on the NV centers. Our results are a major development toward coherent approaches to magnetometry.