Vector magnetometry using silicon vacancies in 4H-SiC at ambient conditions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the use of silicon vacancies in 4H-SiC for optical vector magnetometry at ambient conditions, enabling precise magnetic field measurements with high spatial resolution.

Contribution

It introduces novel sensing protocols utilizing silicon vacancies in SiC for optical vector magnetometry under ambient conditions.

Findings

Successful implementation of vector magnetometry with silicon vacancies in SiC.

Development of multi-frequency spin excitation sensing protocols.

Potential for practical magnetometry applications in industry-friendly platforms.

Abstract

Point defects in solids promise precise measurements of various quantities. Especially magnetic field sensing using the spin of point defects has been of great interest recently. When optical readout of spin states is used, point defects achieve optical magnetic imaging with high spatial resolution at ambient conditions. Here, we demonstrate that genuine optical vector magnetometry can be realized using the silicon vacancy in SiC, which has an uncommon S=3/2 spin. To this end, we develop and experimentally test sensing protocols based on a reference field approach combined with multi frequency spin excitation. Our works suggest that the silicon vacancy in an industry-friendly platform, SiC, has potential for various magnetometry applications at ambient conditions.