Vector magnetic field microscopy using nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a method for imaging local magnetic fields at the nanoscale using nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond, enabling vector magnetic field mapping under ambient conditions.

Contribution

The authors develop a technique to extract 3D magnetic field vectors by probing NV center resonances with confocal microscopy, advancing magnetic imaging capabilities.

Findings

Achieved 2D magnetic field vector imaging.

Operated under external fields less than 50 G.

Performed measurements at ambient conditions.

Abstract

The localized spin triplet ground state of a nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond can be used in atomic-scale detection of local magnetic fields. Here we present a technique using these defects in diamond to image fields around magnetic structures. We extract the local magnetic field vector by probing resonant transitions of the four fixed tetrahedral NV orientations. In combination with confocal microscopy techniques, we construct a 2-dimensional image of the local magnetic field vectors. Measurements are done in external fields less than 50 G and under ambient conditions.