Hands-on quantum sensing with NV- centers in diamonds

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 systemsThis research was funded by MICIN-AEI: Grants DETECTAc and EQC2018-005134-P Comunidad de Madrid: Grant TEC2SPACE-CM P2018/NMT-4291, ONR-G: G#N62909-19-1-2053 (DEFROST), MADE-MICINN: PID2019-105552RB-C44. Garantía Juvenil nº201701520868, R.B.-G. would like to thank Comunidad de Madrid for the funding through the grant 2019-T2/IND-1336