• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

Proposed Spin Amplification for Magnetic Sensors Employing Crystal Defects

Marcus Schaffry, Erik M. Gauger, John J. L. Morton, and Simon C. Benjamin
Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 207210 – Published 10 November 2011
Physics logo See Synopsis: Pairing up to Detect Tiny Magnetic Fields
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

Recently there have been several theoretical and experimental studies of the prospects for magnetic field sensors based on crystal defects, especially nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. Such systems could potentially be incorporated into an atomic force microscopy-like apparatus in order to map the magnetic properties of a surface at the single spin level. In this Letter we propose an augmented sensor consisting of an NV center for readout and an “amplifier” spin system that directly senses the local magnetic field. Our calculations show that this hybrid structure has the potential to detect magnetic moments with a sensitivity and spatial resolution far beyond that of a simple NV center, and indeed this may be the physical limit for sensors of this class.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 19 April 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.207210

© 2011 American Physical Society

Synopsis

Key Image

Pairing up to Detect Tiny Magnetic Fields

Published 10 November 2011

To measure atomic-scale magnetic fields, researchers propose using a molecular preamplifier to pass information about the field to an ultrasensitive atomic defect in diamond.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Marcus Schaffry1, Erik M. Gauger1,2,*, John J. L. Morton1,3, and Simon C. Benjamin1,2

  • 1Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, United Kingdom
  • 2Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117543
  • 3Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Parks Road, OX1 3PU, United Kingdom

  • *erik.gauger@materials.ox.ac.uk

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 107, Iss. 20 — 11 November 2011

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×