Thermometry of an optically levitated nanodiamond

TL;DR

This paper uses NV centers in levitated nanodiamonds to measure their absorption properties and temperature, demonstrating optical levitation as a tool for nanoparticle thermal characterization and material optimization.

Contribution

It introduces a method to calibrate NV-based thermometry in levitated nanodiamonds and estimates their absorption cross-section, highlighting extrinsic volumic effects.

Findings

Absorption in nanodiamonds is dominated by volumic effects.

NV centers can be calibrated for precise thermometry.

Optical levitation enables nanoparticle thermal property characterization.

Abstract

Using the spin properties of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in levitated diamond, we characterize the absorption of single nanodiamonds. We first calibrate the thermometry response of the NV centers embedded in our nanodiamonds. Then, using this calibration, we estimate the absorption cross-section of single levitated nanodiamonds. We show that this absorption is extrinsic and dominated by volumic effects. Our work opens the way to diamond materials optimization for levitation quantum experiments. It also demonstrates optical levitation as a unique platform to characterize material thermal properties at the nanoparticle level.