METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OPTICALLY DETECTING MAGNETIC RESONANCE
First Claim
1. A method for sensing quantum mechanical spin states associated with a plurality of color centers in a room-temperature bulk crystalline material, the method comprising:
- (A) coupling an electromagnetic beam into the room-temperature bulk crystalline material along a propagation path within the room-temperature bulk crystalline material so as to cause the electromagnetic beam to excite the plurality of color centers, the propagation path including a plurality of reflections off surfaces of the room-temperature bulk crystalline material, the plurality of reflections being at one or more angles with respect to the surfaces of the room-temperature bulk crystalline material;
(B) detecting, with at least one detector, electromagnetic radiation emitted and/or transmitted by the plurality of color centers in response to excitation of the plurality of color centers in (A); and
(C) determining, from the electromagnetic radiation detected in (B), the quantum mechanical spin states of the plurality of color centers.
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Abstract
A light-trapping geometry enhances the sensitivity of strain, temperature, and/or electromagnetic field measurements using nitrogen vacancies in bulk diamond, which have exterior dimensions on the order of millimeters. In an example light-trapping geometry, a laser beam enters the bulk diamond, which may be at room temperature, through a facet or notch. The beam propagates along a path inside the bulk diamond that includes many total internal reflections off the diamond'"'"'s surfaces. The NVs inside the bulk diamonds absorb the beam as it propagates. Photodetectors measure the transmitted beam or fluorescence emitted by the NVs. The resulting transmission or emission spectrum represents the NVs'"'"' quantum mechanical states, which in turn vary with temperature, magnetic field strength, electric field strength, strain/pressure, etc.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for sensing quantum mechanical spin states associated with a plurality of color centers in a room-temperature bulk crystalline material, the method comprising:
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(A) coupling an electromagnetic beam into the room-temperature bulk crystalline material along a propagation path within the room-temperature bulk crystalline material so as to cause the electromagnetic beam to excite the plurality of color centers, the propagation path including a plurality of reflections off surfaces of the room-temperature bulk crystalline material, the plurality of reflections being at one or more angles with respect to the surfaces of the room-temperature bulk crystalline material; (B) detecting, with at least one detector, electromagnetic radiation emitted and/or transmitted by the plurality of color centers in response to excitation of the plurality of color centers in (A); and (C) determining, from the electromagnetic radiation detected in (B), the quantum mechanical spin states of the plurality of color centers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a room-temperature bulk crystalline material comprising a plurality of color centers; a source, in electromagnetic communication with the room-temperature bulk crystalline material, to couple an electromagnetic beam into the room-temperature bulk crystalline material along a propagation path within the room-temperature bulk crystalline material so as to cause the electromagnetic beam to excite the plurality of color centers, the propagation path including a plurality of reflections off surfaces of the room-temperature bulk crystalline material, the plurality of reflections being at one or more angles with respect to the surfaces of the room-temperature bulk crystalline material; and at least one detector, in electromagnetic communication with the room-temperature bulk crystalline material, to detect electromagnetic radiation emitted and/or transmitted by the plurality of color centers in response to excitation of the plurality of color centers by the electromagnetic beam. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A sensor comprising:
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a diamond defining a plurality of polished surfaces and comprising a plurality of nitrogen vacancies, the plurality of nitrogen vacancies having a first energy level and a second energy level; a laser, in optical communication with the diamond, to couple a laser beam into the diamond so as to cause the laser beam to excite at least a portion of the plurality of color centers via propagation along a path within the diamond, the path within the diamond comprising at least one total internal reflection from at least one polished surface in the plurality of polished surfaces; and at least one detector, in optical communication with the diamond, to detect a change in optical radiation emitted and/or transmitted by the at least a portion of the plurality of color centers excited by the laser beam, wherein the change in optical radiation is proportional to a change in temperature, pressure, and/or electromagnetic field applied to the diamond.
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Specification