⮞ Département SP ⮞ Thématiques de recherche ⮞ Activité « Optique Guidée et Capteurs » ⮞
Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond possess an energy-level structure similar to that of atoms. Unlike atoms, which are typically used in gaseous form and move freely due to thermal motion, NV centers are embedded within the diamond crystal lattice and therefore remain fixed in position.
These artificial atoms can therefore be addressed by lasers with high precision and reproducibility an unlimited number of times. Furthermore, their spin properties are only minimally affected by interactions with phonons, resulting in a well-defined electronic structure. This enables the implementation of standard atomic physics experiments in the solid state and at room temperature. These unique properties make NV centers highly attractive for a wide range of applications in metrology.
Non-invasive magnetometry, which exploits the optical detection of the spin resonance of NV centers, is currently the most advanced application. Their use for strain and temperature sensing has also been demonstrated. In addition, as a solid-state system operating at room temperature, NV centers enable the development of portable devices, making them a promising platform for a broad range of sensing applications. For magnetometry, two spin detection techniques have been demonstrated, based respectively on measuring (i) the visible fluorescence emitted by NV centers, or (ii) their infrared absorption around a wavelength of 1042 nm. The latter approach offers the advantage of not being limited by the low fluorescence collection efficiency. The SP team’s research activities in this field focus on the all-optical control of the spin states of NV centers, using innovative approaches such as optical cavities [2,3,5] and laser-based architectures [5].
Related Expertise and Facilities
Collaborations
- LUMIN, ENS Paris-Saclay
- Université de Mayence
- KWAN-TEK
- FOTON-OHM
People Involved
Related Funded Projects
- Equipex E-DIAMANT
- ANR SINFONIA
Related Publications and Conferences
- [1] “Controlling single diamond NV color center photoluminescence spectrum with a Fabry-Perot microcavity” Y. Dumeige, R. Alléaume, P. Grangier, F. Treussart, J.-F. Roch. New Journal of Physics 13 025015 (2011). ⟨hal-00578573⟩
- [2] “Magnetometry with nitrogen-vacancy ensembles in diamond based on infrared absorption in a doubly resonant optical cavity” Y. Dumeige, M. Chipaux, V. Jacques, F. Treussart, J.-F. Roch, T. Debuisschert, V. Acosta, A. Jarmola, K. Jensen, P. Kehayias, D. Budker. Physical Review B 87 155202 (2013). ⟨hal-00975236⟩
- [3] “Cavity-enhanced room-temperature magnetometry using absorption by nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond” K. Jensen, N. Leefer, A. Jarmola, Y. Dumeige, V.M. Acosta, P. Kehayias, B. Patton, D. Budker. Physical Review Letters 112 160802 (2014). ⟨hal-01006411⟩
- [4] “Miniature cavity-enhanced diamond magnetometer” G. Chatzidrosos, A. Wickenbrock, L. Bougas, N. Leefer, T. Wu, K. Jensen, Y. Dumeige, D. Budker. Physical Review Applied 8 044019 (2017). ⟨hal-01645212⟩
- [5] “On the possibility of miniature diamond-based magnetometers using waveguide geometries” L. Bougas, A. Wilzewski, Y. Dumeige, D. Antypas, T. Wu, A. Wickenbrock, E. Bourgeois, M. Nesladek, H. Clevenson, D. Braje, D. Englund, D. Budker. Micromachines 9 276 (2018). ⟨hal-01939699⟩
- [6] “Infrared laser threshold magnetometry with a NV doped diamond intracavity etalon” Y. Dumeige, J.-F. Roch, F. Bretenaker, T. Debuisschert, V. Acosta, C. Becher, G. Chatzidrosos, A. Wickenbrock, L. Bougas, A. Wilzewski, D. Budker. Optics Express 27 1706 (2019). ⟨hal-02107654⟩
- [7] “Probing topological spin structures using light-polarization and magnetic microscopy” T. Lenz, G. Chatzidrosos, Z. Wang, L. Bougas, Y. Dumeige, A. Wickenbrock, N. Kerber, J. Zazvorka, F. Kammerbauer, M. Kläui, Z. Kazi, K.-M. C. Fu, K. Itoh, H. Watanabe, D. Budker. Physical Review Applied 15 024040 (2021). ⟨hal-04449073⟩