High density NV sensing surface created via He^(+) ion implantation of (12)^C diamond

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method combining isotope purified diamond growth, nitrogen doping, and helium ion implantation to create high-density NV centers with narrow spin-resonance linewidths for enhanced magnetic sensing.

Contribution

It demonstrates a new fabrication technique that achieves high NV density with significantly narrowed spin resonance linewidths, improving sensing efficiency.

Findings

Achieved NV density of 10^17 cm^(-3) in a 100 nm surface layer.

Obtained spin resonance linewidth of 200 kHz, narrower than previous reports.

Linewidth likely limited by dipolar broadening, suggesting room for further improvement.

Abstract

We present a promising method for creating high-density ensembles of nitrogen-vacancy centers with narrow spin-resonances for high-sensitivity magnetic imaging. Practically, narrow spin-resonance linewidths substantially reduce the optical and RF power requirements for ensemble-based sensing. The method combines isotope purified diamond growth, in situ nitrogen doping, and helium ion implantation to realize a 100 nm-thick sensing surface. The obtained 10^(17) cm^(-3) nitrogen-vacancy density is only a factor of 10 less than the highest densities reported to date, with an observed spin resonance linewidth over 10 times more narrow. The 200 kHz linewidth is most likely limited by dipolar broadening indicating even further reduction of the linewidth is desirable and possible.