Quantum probes can measure time-varying fields with high sensitivity and
spatial resolution, enabling the study of biological, material, and physical
phenomena at the nanometer scale. In particular, nitrogen-vacancy centers in
diamond have recently emerged as promising sensors of magnetic and electric
fields. Although coherent control techniques have measured the amplitude of
constant or oscillating fields, these techniques are not suitable for measuring
time-varying fields with unknown dynamics. Here we introduce a coherent
acquisition method to accurately reconstruct the temporal profile of
time-varying fields using Walsh sequences. These decoupling sequences act as
digital filters that efficiently extract spectral coefficients while
suppressing decoherence, thus providing improved sensitivity over existing
strategies. We experimentally reconstruct the magnetic field radiated by a
physical model of a neuron using a single electronic spin in diamond and
discuss practical applications. These results will be useful to implement
time-resolved magnetic sensing with quantum probes at the nanometer scale.Comment: 8+12 page
