Bayesian estimation for quantum sensing in the absence of single-shot detection

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that Bayesian estimation can significantly improve quantum sensing sensitivity in scenarios lacking single-shot readout, specifically for room-temperature NV center magnetometry, by optimizing measurement protocols and utilizing timing information.

Contribution

It introduces a Bayesian-based sensing protocol that enhances sensitivity in quantum magnetometry without single-shot detection, outperforming previous methods.

Findings

Bayesian estimation improves sensitivity by over 3 times.

Timing information further enhances measurement precision.

Protocol is effective for room-temperature NV center magnetometry.

Abstract

Quantum information protocols, such as quantum error correction and quantum phase estimation, have been widely used to enhance the performance of quantum sensors. While these protocols have relied on single-shot detection, in most practical applications only an averaged readout is available, as in the case of room-temperature sensing with the electron spin associated with a nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond. Here, we theoretically investigate the application of the quantum phase estimation algorithm for high dynamic-range magnetometry, in the case where single-shot readout is not available. We show that, even in this case, Bayesian estimation provides a natural way to use the available information in an efficient way. We apply Bayesian analysis to achieve an optimized sensing protocol for estimating a time-independent magnetic field with a single electron spin associated to a nitrogen-vacancy center at room temperature and show that this protocol improves the sensitivity over previous protocols by more than a factor of 3. Moreover, we show that an extra enhancement can be achieved by considering the timing information in the detector clicks.