Optically detected magnetic resonance with an open source platform

Abstract

Localized electronic spins in solid-state environments form versatile and robust platforms for quantum sensing, metrology and quantum information processing. With optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR), it is possible to prepare and readout highly coherent spin systems, up to room temperature, with orders of magnitude enhanced sensitivities and spatial resolutions compared to induction-based techniques, allowing single spin manipulations. While ODMR was first observed in organic molecules, many other systems are nowadays intensively being searched for, discovered and studied. Among them is the nitrogen-vacany (NV) center in diamond. Beyond ODMR it is notably already widely and successfully used both as a high-resolution high-sensitivity quantum sensors for external fields and as a qubit. Others are rare earth ions used as quantum memories and many other color centers trapped in bulk or 2-dimensional materials. In order to allow the broadest possible community of researchers and engineers to investigate and develop novel ODMR-based materials and applications, we overview here the setting up of ODMR experiments using commercially available hardware. We also present in detail a dedicated collaborative open-source interface named Qudi and describe the original features we have added to speed-up data acquisition, relax instrumental requirements and widen its applicability to individual and ensemble ODMR systems. Associating hardware and software discussions, this article aims to steepen the learning curve of newcomers in ODMR from a variety of scientific backgrounds, to optimize the experimental development time, preempt the common measurement pitfalls, and to provide an efficient, portable and collaborative interface to explore innovative experiments.

Neuronal growth on high-aspect-ratio diamond nanopillar arrays for biosensing applications

“…Both photoluminescence and ODMR measurements were carried out in our home-built confocal fluorescence microscope. More information about the setup and the acquisition software can be found in 78 . In order to achieve sufficiently high spatial resolution we use a high numerical aperture objective (N.A.= 0.9) and we collect the signal with a single mode fiber and a single photon detector.…”

Lipid peroxidation in diamond supported bilayers

“…The relaxometry protocol used with the widefield setup is very similar to the typical sequence used in an NV center confocal setup. 21 It consists of a polarization pulse that pumps all the NV centers to the m s = 0 state, followed by a readout pulse that allows for the detector to read the current state population of the NV centers. However, the counts we detect are not completely zero when the light source is off.…”

Neuronal growth on high-aspect-ratio diamond nanopillar arrays for biosensing applications

“…Both photoluminescence and ODMR measurements were carried out in our home-built confocal fluorescence microscope. More information about the setup and the acquisition software can be found in [69]. In order to achieve sufficiently high spatial resolution we use a high numerical aperture objective (N.A.= 0.9) and we collect the signal with a single mode fiber and a single photon detector.…”