An ultrafast diamond nonlinear photonic sensor

TL;DR

This paper introduces an ultrafast diamond-based nonlinear photonic sensor capable of detecting surface electric fields with nanometer-femtosecond resolution, advancing nano material sensing technologies.

Contribution

It presents a novel electro-optic sensor using nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond nanotips that surpasses traditional pump-probe limitations.

Findings

Achieved nanometer-femtosecond spatio-temporal resolution in electric field sensing.

Demonstrated modulation of surface electric fields using 10-fs near-infrared pulses.

Enabled monitoring of local electric field dynamics in 2D materials.

Abstract

The integration of light and materials technology is key to the creation of innovative sensing technologies. Sensing of electric and magnetic fields, and temperature with high spatio-temporal resolution is a critical task for the development of the next-generation of nanometer-scale quantum devices. Color centers in diamonds are attractive for potential applications owing to their characteristic quantum states, although they require metallic contacts for the introduction of external microwaves. Here, we build an ultrafast diamond nonlinear photonic sensor to assess the surface electric field; an electro-optic sensor based on nitrogen-vacancy centers in a diamond nanotip breaks the spatial-limit of conventional pump-probe techniques. The 10-fs near-infrared optical pulse modulates the surface electric field of a 2D transition metal dichalcogenide and we monitor the dynamics of the local electric field at nanometer-femtosecond spatio-temporal resolutions. Our nanoscopic technique will provide new horizons to the sensing of advanced nano materials.