Abstract
The electronic spin of the nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond forms an atomically sized, highly sensitive sensor for magnetic fields. To harness the full potential of individual NV centers for sensing with high sensitivity and nanoscale spatial resolution, NV centers have to be incorporated into scanning probe structures enabling controlled scanning in close proximity to the sample surface. Here, we present an optimized procedure to fabricate single-crystal, all-diamond scanning probes starting from commercially available diamond and show a highly efficient and robust approach for integrating these devices in a generic atomic force microscope. Our scanning probes consisting of a scanning nanopillar (200 nm diameter, 1-2 μm length) on a thin (<1 μm) cantilever structure enable efficient light extraction from diamond in combination with a high magnetic field sensitivity (ηAC≈50±20nT/Hz). As a first application of our scanning probes, we image the magnetic stray field of a single Ni nanorod. We show that this stray field can be approximated by a single dipole and estimate the NV-to-sample distance to a few tens of nanometer, which sets the achievable resolution of our scanning probes.
Highlights
The negatively charged nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond forms a highly promising sensor: On the one hand, its unique combination of long spin coherence times and efficient optical spin readout enables the detection of magnetic1 and electric fields2 as well as local temperature.3,4 On the other hand, the NV center is a highly photostable single photon source and an ideal emitter for scanning near field5 and single photon microscopy.6 all properties relevant for sensing are sustained from cryogenic temperatures7,8 up to 550 K,9 rendering NV centers highly promising for applications in material sciences and physics and for applications in the life sciences.10 As a point defect in the diamond lattice, the NV center can be considered as an “artificial atom” with sub-nanometer size
We present an optimized procedure to fabricate single-crystal, all-diamond scanning probes starting from commercially available diamond and show a highly efficient and robust approach for integrating these devices in a generic atomic force microscope
As a first application of our scanning probes, we image the magnetic stray field of a single Ni nanorod. We show that this stray field can be approximated by a single dipole and estimate the NV-to-sample distance to a few tens of nanometer, which sets the achievable resolution of our scanning probes
Summary
The negatively charged nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond forms a highly promising sensor: On the one hand, its unique combination of long spin coherence times and efficient optical spin readout enables the detection of magnetic and electric fields as well as local temperature. On the other hand, the NV center is a highly photostable single photon source and an ideal emitter for scanning near field and single photon microscopy. all properties relevant for sensing are sustained from cryogenic temperatures up to 550 K,9 rendering NV centers highly promising for applications in material sciences and physics and for applications in the life sciences. As a point defect in the diamond lattice, the NV center can be considered as an “artificial atom” with sub-nanometer size. The negatively charged nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond forms a highly promising sensor: On the one hand, its unique combination of long spin coherence times and efficient optical spin readout enables the detection of magnetic and electric fields as well as local temperature.. As a point defect in the diamond lattice, the NV center can be considered as an “artificial atom” with sub-nanometer size. As such, it promises highest sensitivity and versatility but in principle unprecedented nanoscale spatial resolution. We present in detail the nanofabrication of diamond nanopillars for scanning probe microscopy and describe a highly efficient and robust approach for integrating these devices in an AFM. We discuss the magnetometry performance of the probes and demonstrate high resolution imaging of the stray field of single magnetic Ni nanorods using the alldiamond scanning probes
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