NV Center Quantum Sensor Phase Shift Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current metrology methods for measuring variables using NV centers face challenges in increasing measurement accuracy and reproducibility, reducing influencing factors, and improving reliability and efficiency, particularly in optical measurements.
Innovation Solution
A measuring method and apparatus utilizing NV centers with temporally periodic modulated excitation light to determine phase shifts between emission and excitation light, allowing for the calculation of measured values based on these phase shifts, which are insensitive to fluctuations and noise, thereby enhancing measurement accuracy and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional fluorescent substances or macroscopic measurement techniques are used, then the measurement can be performed with simple apparatus, but the measurement accuracy and reproducibility are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs NV centers in diamond as quantum sensors that utilize quantum mechanical properties (spin states, fluorescence intensity, lifetime) to measure magnetic fields and other parameters. By changing from classical fluorescent substances to quantum-based NV centers, the measurement precision is dramatically improved while maintaining practical apparatus complexity through optical readout methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional macroscopic measurement techniques with quantum sensor technology based on NV centers. The quantum mechanical effects (fluorescence dependence on magnetic field, spin state transitions) substitute for classical measurement approaches, enabling higher precision measurements of magnetic fields, temperature, and other physical quantities.
2Reliability
If conventional optical measurement methods are used, then the measurement process is simple, but the measurement is influenced by noise and fluctuations reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic modulation of the excitation light at a specific frequency to drive the NV center transitions. By using lock-in detection techniques that reference this periodic modulation, the system can distinguish the signal from random noise and fluctuations, significantly improving measurement reliability and reducing the influence of environmental disturbances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the fluorescence signal from NV centers as a feedback mechanism to determine the magnetic field strength and other parameters. The fluorescence intensity and lifetime provide continuous information about the quantum state, which is used to infer measurement parameters with high reliability while compensating for noise through the quantum mechanical dependence on external fields.
3Measurement precision
If NV centers are used for measurement, then measurement accuracy improves, but the measurement system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent demonstrates that NV centers can serve multiple measurement functions simultaneously - measuring magnetic fields, temperature, and other physical quantities using the same quantum sensor platform. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized sensors for each parameter, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement accuracy across different parameters.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method and apparatus achieve high measurement accuracy and sensitivity by reducing noise influence and allowing for non-contact optical measurements, with increased reliability and efficiency, especially at room temperature, suitable for various applications including biological and industrial settings.
Implementation Method 1
nanodiamonds (or more generally mesoscopic solid-state elements) having nitrogen-vacancy centers as color centers, upon optical excitation, have a high brightness, i.e. in particular a high light emission
Implementation Method 2
The NV center has a plurality of quantum states and is optically excitable into at least one excited state of the quantum states by means of an excitation light
Implementation Method 3
determining a phase shift between the emission light of the NV center and the modulation of the excitation light
Data Source
AI summary
It is an object of the invention to improve processes, apparatuses and systems for measuring a measured variable. To this end, a measured variable is measured in a measuring process on the basis of an NV center as a quantum sensor. The NV center has a plurality of quantum states and is optically excitable on the basis of an occupancy of one of the quantum states into at least one excited state of the quantum states by means of an excitation light. The at least one excited state can decay at least with emission of emission light of the NV center. In the measuring process, the NV center is irradiated by the excitation light, the excitation light having a time periodic modulation, and a respective occupancy probability and/or a respective lifetime of the quantum states depending on the measured variable and the excitation light. A phase shift is determined between the emission light of the NV center and the modulation of the excitation light and a measurement value for the measured variable is determined on the basis thereof.