Erik Bauch

Temperature dependence of the nitrogen-vacancy magnetic resonance in diamond.

The temperature dependence of the magnetic-resonance spectra of nitrogen-vacancy (NV-) ensembles in the range of 280-330 K was studied. Four samples prepared under different conditions were analyzed with NV- concentrations ranging from 10 ppb to 15 ppm. For all samples, the axial zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameter D was found to vary significantly with temperature, T, as dD/dT=-74.2(7) kHz/K. The transverse ZFS parameter E was nonzero (between 4 and 11 MHz) in all samples, and exhibited a temperature dependence of dE/(EdT)=-1.4(3)x10{-4} K-1. The results might be accounted for by considering local thermal expansion. The temperature dependence of the ZFS parameters presents a significant challenge for diamond magnetometers and may ultimately limit their bandwidth and sensitivity.

Optical properties of the nitrogen-vacancy singlet levels in diamond

We report measurements of the optical properties of the 1042 nm transition of negatively-charged Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers in type 1b diamond. The results indicate that the upper level of this transition couples to the m_s=+/-1 sublevels of the {^3}E excited state and is short-lived, with a lifetime <~ 1 ns. The lower level is shown to have a temperature-dependent lifetime of 462(10) ns at 4.4 K and 219(3) ns at 295 K. The light-polarization dependence of 1042 nm absorption confirms that the transition is between orbitals of A_1 and E character. The results shed new light on the NV level structure and optical pumping mechanism.

Broadband magnetometry by infrared-absorption detection of nitrogen-vacancy ensembles in diamond

We demonstrate magnetometry by detection of the spin state of high-density nitrogen-vacancy ensembles in diamond using optical absorption at 1042 nm. With this technique, measurement contrast, and collection efficiency can approach unity, leading to an increase in magnetic sensitivity compared to the more common method of collecting red fluorescence. Working at 75 K with a sensor with effective volume 50×50×300 μm3, we project photon shot-noise limited sensitivity of 5 pT in one second of acquisition and bandwidth from dc to a few megahertz. Operation in a gradiometer configuration yields a noise floor of 7 nTrms at ∼110 Hz in one second of acquisition.

Detection of the Meissner effect with a diamond magnetometer

We examine the possibility of probing superconductivity effects in metal nanoclusters via diamond magnetometry. Metal nanoclusters have been proposed as constitutive elements of high-Tc superconducting nanostructured materials. Magnetometry based on the detection of spin-selective fluorescence of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond is capable of nanoscale spatial resolution and can be used as a tool for investigating the properties of single or multiple clusters interacting among each other or with a surface. We have carried out sensitivity estimates and experiments to understand how these magnetometers could be used in such a situation. We detected the flux exclusion effect in a superconductor by monitoring the magnetic resonance spectrum of a large ensemble of NV centers in diamond. Our results show that phase transitions can be ascertained in a bulk superconductor with this technique. We also discovered temperature-dependent behavior of the zero-field splitting parameter D and conclude that the general implementation of such measurements may require compensation schemes.

Electron spin resonance shift and linewidth broadening of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond as a function of electron irradiation dose.

A high-nitrogen-concentration diamond sample was subjected to 200-keV electron irradiation using a transmission electron microscope. The optical and spin-resonance properties of the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers were investigated as a function of the irradiation dose up to 6.4 × 10(21) e(-)/cm(2). The microwave transition frequency of the NV(-) center was found to shift by up to 0.6% (17.1 MHz) and the linewidth broadened with increasing electron-irradiation dose. Unexpectedly, the measured magnetic sensitivity is best at the lowest irradiation dose, even though the NV concentration increases monotonically with increasing dose. This is in large part due to a sharp reduction in optically detected spin contrast at higher doses.

Broadband magnetometry by infrared-absorption detection of diamond NV centers and associated temperature dependence

We demonstrate magnetometry by detection of the spin state of high-density nitrogen-vacancy (NV) ensembles in diamond using optical absorption at 1042 nm. With this technique, measurement contrast and collection efficiency can approach unity, leading to an increase in magnetic sensitivity compared to the more common method of collecting red fluorescence. Working at 75 K with a sensor with effective volume 50x50x300 μm3, we project photon shot-noise limited sensitivity of 5 pT in one second of acquisition and bandwidth from DC to a few MHz. Operation in a gradiometer configuration yields a noise floor of 7 nTrms at ~110 Hz in one second of acquisition. We also present measurements of the zero-field splitting parameters as a function of temperature, a calibration which is essential for ultra-sensitive magnetometry at low frequencies.