“Utilizing Impurities in Diamonds for Nanoscale Measurements”

The NUMEV Seminars are open to a wide audience of students and researchers from all disciplines who wish to learn more about the current research areas of the NUMEV-MIPS community (Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, and Systems) or about opportunities to develop their skills and expertise.

“Utilizing Impurities in Diamonds for Nanoscale Measurements”

Isabelle Robert-Philip, CNRS – University of Montpellier, Charles Coulomb Laboratory

Quantum sensors are an emerging class of sensors based on the principles of quantum mechanics. These sensors are attracting growing interest because their performance is expected to surpass that of their classical counterparts. They utilize individual quantum objects characterized by extreme sensitivity to their environment. A flagship quantum object in this field of application is an atomic defect in a diamond crystal, known as an “NV center” (for Nitrogen-Vacancy). This defect behaves like an isolated atom, yet it is embedded within the diamond crystal lattice. During this presentation, we will explain how such a defect can be used to create a high-performance sensor at the nanoscale to probe magnetic fields, electric fields, strain, or temperature. We will then illustrate some application areas for this sensor, such as the field of modern condensed matter physics, where these sensors are currently being commercialized, and the more exploratory field of biological imaging and medical research.

“Using impurities in diamonds for nanoscale measurements“

Isabelle Robert-Philip, CNRS – University of Montpellier, Charles Coulomb Laboratory

Abstract

Quantum sensors are an emerging class of sensors based on the principles of quantum mechanics. These sensors are attracting growing interest because their performance is likely to surpass that of their classical counterparts. They utilize individual quantum objects characterized by extreme sensitivity to their environment. A representative quantum object in this field of application is an atomic defect in the diamond crystal, known as the “NV center” (for Nitrogen-Vacancy). This defect behaves like an isolated atom, but is embedded within a diamond crystal lattice. During this presentation, we will explain how such a defect can be used to create a high-performance sensor at the nanoscale to measure magnetic fields, electric fields, strain, or temperature. We will then illustrate a few areas of application for this sensor. In particular, we will present two fields of application: modern condensed matter physics, where these sensors are currently in the industrialization phase, and the more exploratory field of biological imaging and medical research.