Nuclear Spin Gyroscope based on the Nitrogen Vacancy Center in Diamond

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a proof-of-concept nuclear spin gyroscope using nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond, offering a potential drift-free alternative for inertial navigation systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel rotation sensing method based on nuclear spins of NV centers, showing feasibility without stationary reference.

Findings

Successful rotation measurement with NV centers

Verification against commercial MEMS gyroscope

Potential for drift-free inertial sensing

Abstract

A rotation sensor is one of the key elements of inertial navigation systems and compliments most cellphone sensor sets used for various applications. Currently, inexpensive and efficient solutions are mechanoelectronic devices, which nevertheless lack long-term stability. Realization of rotation sensors based on spins of fundamental particles may become a drift-free alternative to such devices. Here, we carry out a proof-of-concept experiment, demonstrating rotation measurements on a rotating setup utilizing nuclear spins of an ensemble of NV centers as a sensing element with no stationary reference. The measurement is verified by a commercially available MEMS gyroscope.