$T_2$-limited sensing of static magnetic fields via fast rotation of quantum spins

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to measure static magnetic fields using rotating quantum spins in diamond, leveraging the longer coherence time $T_2$ to improve sensitivity over traditional static measurements.

Contribution

The authors demonstrate a technique that uses physical rotation of NV centers to convert static fields into oscillating signals, enabling longer measurement times limited by $T_2$ rather than $T_2^*$.

Findings

Measurement duration exceeds traditional Ramsey experiments by over a hundred times.

Potential to achieve DC magnetic field sensitivities comparable to high-performance AC sensors.

Rotation-based scheme upconverts static fields, enhancing measurement precision.

Abstract

Diamond-based quantum magnetometers are more sensitive to oscillating (AC) magnetic fields than static (DC) fields because the crystal impurity-induced ensemble dephasing time $T_2^*$, the relevant sensing time for a DC field, is much shorter than the spin coherence time $T_2$, which determines the sensitivity to AC fields. Here we demonstrate measurement of DC magnetic fields using a physically rotating ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy centres at a precision ultimately limited by $T_2$ rather than $T_2^*$. The rotation period of the diamond is comparable to $T_2$ and the angle between the NV axis and the target magnetic field changes as a function of time, thus upconverting the static magnetic field to an oscillating field in the physically rotating frame. Using spin-echo interferometry of the rotating NV centres, we are able to perform measurements for over a hundred times longer compared to a conventional Ramsey experiment. With modifications our scheme could realise DC sensitivities equivalent to demonstrated NV center AC magnetic field sensitivities of order $0.1$\,nT\,Hz$^{-1/2}$.