Selective addressing and readout of optically detected electron spins

Abstract

Optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) is known to allow the ultrasensitive detection of a small number of electron spins for species such as nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, down to the single spin level. This method was recently combined with the pulsed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique known as optically detected magnetic resonance imaging (ODMRI) to obtain images of NVs at resolutions ranging from the micron- to the nanoscale. The great advantage of ODMRI is that the quantum state of the spins can be acquired (i.e., readout) in parallel from all parts of the sample without any loss of spectroscopic information. Here we further enhance the utility of our ODMRI technique by improving its spatial resolution and adding a spatially selective spin addressing and manipulation capability. We demonstrate this capability by selectively manipulating a specific group of spins in our sample and subsequently imaging the entire sample to show this selectivity effect. Such capabilities are of fundamental importance in the field of spin-based quantum devices and sensors.