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Quantum magnetometry of transient signals with a time resolution of 1.1 nanoseconds

Author

Listed:
  • K. Herb

    (ETH Zürich)

  • L. A. Völker

    (ETH Zürich)

  • J. M. Abendroth

    (ETH Zürich)

  • N. Meinhardt

    (ETH Zürich)

  • L. Schie

    (ETH Zürich
    ETH Zürich)

  • P. Gambardella

    (ETH Zürich
    ETH Zürich)

  • C. L. Degen

    (ETH Zürich
    ETH Zürich)

Abstract

Quantum magnetometers based on spin defects in solids enable sensitive imaging of various magnetic phenomena, such as ferro- and antiferromagnetism, superconductivity, and current-induced fields. Existing protocols primarily focus on static fields or narrow-band dynamical signals, and are optimized for high sensitivity rather than fast time resolution. Here, we report detection of fast signal transients, providing a perspective for investigating the rich dynamics of magnetic systems. We experimentally demonstrate our technique using a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center magnetometer at room temperature, reaching a best-effort time resolution of 1.1 ns, an instantaneous bandwidth of 0.9 GHz, and a time-of-flight precision better than 20 ps. The time resolution can be extended to the picosecond range by use of on-chip waveguides. At these speeds, NV quantum magnetometers will become competitive with time-resolved synchrotron X-ray techniques. Looking forward, adding fast temporal resolution to the spatial imaging capability further promotes single-spin probes as powerful research tools in spintronics, mesoscopic physics, and nanoscale device metrology.

Suggested Citation

  • K. Herb & L. A. Völker & J. M. Abendroth & N. Meinhardt & L. Schie & P. Gambardella & C. L. Degen, 2025. "Quantum magnetometry of transient signals with a time resolution of 1.1 nanoseconds," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-55956-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-55956-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gopalakrishnan Balasubramanian & I. Y. Chan & Roman Kolesov & Mohannad Al-Hmoud & Julia Tisler & Chang Shin & Changdong Kim & Aleksander Wojcik & Philip R. Hemmer & Anke Krueger & Tobias Hanke & Alfre, 2008. "Nanoscale imaging magnetometry with diamond spins under ambient conditions," Nature, Nature, vol. 455(7213), pages 648-651, October.
    2. J. R. Maze & P. L. Stanwix & J. S. Hodges & S. Hong & J. M. Taylor & P. Cappellaro & L. Jiang & M. V. Gurudev Dutt & E. Togan & A. S. Zibrov & A. Yacoby & R. L. Walsworth & M. D. Lukin, 2008. "Nanoscale magnetic sensing with an individual electronic spin in diamond," Nature, Nature, vol. 455(7213), pages 644-647, October.
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