Optimized single-crystal diamond scanning probes for high sensitivity magnetometry
At a Glance
Section titled āAt a Glanceā| Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 2018-12-05 |
| Journal | New Journal of Physics |
| Authors | Philipp Fuchs, Michel Challier, Elke Neu, Philipp Fuchs, Michel Challier |
| Institutions | Saarland University |
| Citations | 29 |
Abstract
Section titled āAbstractāThe negatively-charged nitrogen-vacancy center (NV) in diamond forms a\nversatile system for quantum sensing applications. Combining the advantageous\nproperties of this atomic-sized defect with scanning probe techniques such as\natomic force microscopy (AFM) enables nanoscale imaging of e.g. magnetic\nfields. To form a scanning probe device, we place single NVs shallowly (i.e. <\n20 nm) below the top facet of a diamond nanopillar, which is located on a thin\ndiamond platform of typically below 1 \mu m thickness. This device can be\nattached to an AFM head, forming an excellent scanning probe tip. Furthermore,\nit simultaneously influences the collectible photoluminescence (PL) rate of the\nNV located inside. Especially sensing protocols using continuous\noptically-detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) benefit from an enhanced\ncollectible PL rate, improving the achievable sensitivity. This work presents a\ncomprehensive set of simulations to quantify the influence of the device\ngeometry on the collectible PL rate for individual NVs. Besides geometric\nparameters (e.g. pillar length, diameter and platform thickness), we also focus\non fabrication uncertainties such as the exact position of the NV or the taper\ngeometry of the pillar introduced by imperfect etching. As a last step, we use\nthese individual results to optimize our current device geometry, yielding a\nrealistic gain in collectible PL rate by a factor of 13 compared to bulk\ndiamond and 1.8 compared to our unoptimized devices.\n