Nanoscale vector electric field imaging using a single electron spin

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates nanoscale electric field imaging at ambient temperatures using a single NV center in diamond, achieving near single-charge sensitivity and sub-charge detection through innovative integration of Qdyne with scanning quantum microscopy.

Contribution

The work introduces a novel method combining Qdyne with scanning quantum microscopy to achieve high-resolution electric field imaging at the nanoscale with NV centers.

Findings

Achieved near single charge sensitivity of 5.3 charges/√Hz

Demonstrated sub-charge detection of 0.68e

Extended NV center electrometry to nanoscale resolution at ambient conditions

Abstract

The ability to perform nanoscale electric field imaging of elementary charges at ambient temperatures will have diverse interdisciplinary applications. While the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond is capable of high-sensitivity electrometry, demonstrations have so far been limited to macroscopic field features or detection of single charges internal to diamond itself. In this work we greatly extend these capabilities by using a shallow NV center to image the electric field of a charged atomic force microscope tip with nanoscale resolution. This is achieved by measuring Stark shifts in the NV spin-resonance due to AC electric fields. To achieve this feat we employ for the first time, the integration of Qdyne with scanning quantum microscopy. We demonstrate near single charge sensitivity of $\eta_e = 5.3$ charges/$\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$, and sub-charge detection ($0.68e$). This proof-of-concept experiment provides the motivation for further sensing and imaging of electric fields using NV centers in diamond.