Fluorescence thermometry enhanced by the quantum coherence of single spins in diamond

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 May 21;110(21):8417-21. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1306825110. Epub 2013 May 6.

Abstract

We demonstrate fluorescence thermometry techniques with sensitivities approaching 10 mK · Hz(-1/2) based on the spin-dependent photoluminescence of nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. These techniques use dynamical decoupling protocols to convert thermally induced shifts in the NV center's spin resonance frequencies into large changes in its fluorescence. By mitigating interactions with nearby nuclear spins and facilitating selective thermal measurements, these protocols enhance the spin coherence times accessible for thermometry by 45-fold, corresponding to a 7-fold improvement in the NV center's temperature sensitivity. Moreover, we demonstrate these techniques can be applied over a broad temperature range and in both finite and near-zero magnetic field environments. This versatility suggests that the quantum coherence of single spins could be practically leveraged for sensitive thermometry in a wide variety of biological and microscale systems.

Keywords: electron spin resonance; quantum control; spintronics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.