Probing Stress and Magnetism at High Pressures with Two-Dimensional Quantum Sensors

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel in situ quantum sensing method using 2D materials integrated into high-pressure environments to map local stress and magnetic properties with high sensitivity and spatial resolution.

Contribution

It presents a new quantum sensing platform with 2D spin defects capable of operating under high pressure, surpassing traditional diamond NV centers in response strength and proximity.

Findings

Enhanced sensitivity to local stress compared to NV centers

Successful imaging of stress gradients and magnetic phase transitions

Operates effectively up to 4 GPa pressure

Abstract

Pressure serves as a fundamental tuning parameter capable of drastically modifying all properties of matter. The advent of diamond anvil cells (DACs) has enabled a compact and tabletop platform for generating extreme pressure conditions in laboratory settings. However, the limited spatial dimensions and ultrahigh pressures within these environments present significant challenges for conventional spectroscopy techniques. In this work, we integrate optical spin defects within a thin layer of two-dimensional (2D) materials directly into the high-pressure chamber, enabling an in situ quantum sensing platform for mapping local stress and magnetic environments up to 4~GPa. Compared to nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers embedded in diamond anvils, our 2D sensors exhibit around three times stronger response to local stress and provide nanoscale proximity to the target sample in heterogeneous devices. We showcase the versatility of our approach by imaging both stress gradients within the high-pressure chamber and a pressure-driven magnetic phase transition in a room-temperature self-intercalated van der Waals ferromagnet, Cr$_{1+\delta}$Te$_2$. Our work demonstrates an integrated quantum sensing device for high-pressure experiments, offering potential applications in probing pressure-induced phenomena such as superconductivity, magnetism, and mechanical deformation.