Abstract
The ability to sensitively detect individual charges under ambient conditions would benefit a wide range of applications across disciplines. However, most current techniques are limited to low-temperature methods such as single-electron transistors 1,2 , single-electron electrostatic force microscopy and scanning tunnelling microscopy 4 . Here we introduce a quantum-metrology technique demonstrating precision three-dimensional electric-field measurement using a single nitrogen-vacancy defect centre spin in diamond. An a.c. electric-field sensitivity reaching 202 ± 6 V cm -1 Hz -1/2 has been achieved. This corresponds to the electric field produced by a single elementary charge located at a distance of ∼ 150 nm from our spin sensor with averaging for one second. The analysis of the electronic structure of the defect centre reveals how an applied magnetic field influences the electric-field-sensing properties. We also demonstrate that diamond-defect-centre spins can be switched between electric - and magnetic-field sensing modes and identify suitable parameter ranges for both detector schemes. By combining magnetic and electric-field sensitivity, nanoscale detection and ambient operation, our study should open up new frontiers in imaging and sensing applications ranging from materials science to bioimaging.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 459-463 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Nature Physics |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2011 |
Externally published | Yes |