Title: High-Precision Mapping of Diamond Crystal Strain Using Quantum Interferometry

Abstract

Crystal-strain variation imposes significant limitations on many quantum sensing and information applications for solid-state defect qubits in diamond. Thus, the precision measurement and control of diamond crystal strain is a key challenge. Here, we report diamond strain measurements with a unique set of capabilities, including micron-scale spatial resolution, a millimeter-scale field of view, and a 2-order-of-magnitude improvement in volume-normalized sensitivity over previous work, reaching 5(2)×10^-8/√Hzμm^-3 (with spin-strain coupling coefficients representing the dominant systematic uncertainty). We use strain-sensitive spin-state interferometry on ensembles of nitrogen-vacancy (N-V) color centers in single-crystal bulk diamond with low strain gradients. This quantum interferometry technique provides insensitivity to magnetic-field inhomogeneity from the electronic and nuclear spin bath, thereby enabling long N-V–ensemble electronic spin dephasing times and enhanced strain sensitivity, as well as broadening the potential applications of the technique beyond isotopically enriched or high-purity diamond. We demonstrate the strain-sensitive measurement protocol first on a confocal scanning laser microscope, providing quantitative measurement of sensitivity as well as three-dimensional strain mapping; and second on a wide-field-imaging quantum diamond microscope. Our strain-microscopy technique enables fast, sensitive characterization for diamond material engineering and nanofabrication; as well as diamond-based sensing of strains applied externally, as in diamond anvil cells or embedded diamondmore » stress sensors, or internally, as by crystal damage due to particle-induced nuclear recoils.« less

Authors:

Marshall, Mason C.  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Marshall, Mason C."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-7089-2548"

Ebadi, Reza  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Ebadi, Reza"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-1325-6876"

Hart, Connor  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Hart, Connor"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-7751-7663"

Turner, Matthew J. ^[2]; Ku, Mark J.H.  ^[3];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Ku, Mark J.H."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-3144-3069"

Phillips, David F.  ^[4];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Phillips, David F."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-5132-1339"

Walsworth, Ronald L. ^[5]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States); Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA (United States); National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO (United States)
2. Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)
3. Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States); Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)
4. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA (United States)
5. Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States); Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA (United States)

Publication Date:

Tue Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2022

Research Org.:

Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC (United States); Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC); US Army Research Office (ARO); Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); National Science Foundation (NSF)

OSTI Identifier:

1979644

Grant/Contract Number:  

SC0019396; SC0021654; W911NF-19-2-0181; D18AC00033; 1541959

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Physical Review Applied

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 17; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 2331-7019

Publisher:

American Physical Society (APS)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; Physics; quantum sensing; strain; diamond structure; nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond; dark matter detectors