Nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond combine exceptional sensitivity with nanoscale spatial resolution by optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR). Infrared (IR)-absorption-based readout of the NV singlet state transition can increase ODMR contrast and collection efficiency. Here, a resonant diamond metallodielectric metasurface amplifies IR absorption by concentrating the optical field near the diamond surface. This plasmonic quantum sensing metasurface (PQSM) supports plasmonic surface lattice resonances and balances field localization and sensing volume to optimize spin readout sensitivity. Combined electromagnetic and rate-equation modeling suggests a near-spin-projection-noise-limited sensitivity below 1 nT Hz.sup.−1/2 per m.sup.2 of sensing area using numbers for contemporary NV diamond samples and fabrication techniques. The PQSM enables microscopic ODMR sensing with IR readout near the spin-projection-noise-limited sensitivity, making it appealing for imaging through scattering tissues and spatially resolved chemical NMR detection.

A magnetometer includes a sample signal device; a reference signal device; a microwave field generator operable to apply a microwave field to the sample signal device and the reference signal device; an optical source configured to emit light including light of a first wavelength that interacts optically with the sample signal device and with the reference signal device; at least one photodetector arranged to detect a sample photoluminescence signal including light of a second wavelength emitted from the sample signal device and a reference photoluminescence signal including light of the second wavelength emitted from the reference signal device, in which the first wavelength is different from the second wavelength; and a magnet arranged adjacent to the sample signal device and the reference signal device.

A measurement device for measuring MR signals in a MR device may include first and second magnetometers and a controller. The first magnetometer may be a quantum spin magnetometer that includes a sensor material having a spin defect center including Zeeman splitting states dependent on an external magnetic field of the MR device, an optical excitation source and a microwave excitation source for electromagnetically exciting the sensor material, and a measurement sensor for measuring optical signals emitted by the excited sensor material element and depending on the Zeeman splitting states. The controller may be configured to determine a working frequency of the microwave excitation source of the first magnetometer from the total magnetic field strength measured by the second magnetometer, and control the microwave excitation source to use the determined working frequency as microwave frequency, such that the first magnetometer measures the MR signals as the optical signal.

The invention is related to a novel atomic clock developed by taking into basis Quantum mechanics and the spin-spin status of the electrodes that have been trapped. The disadvantages such as radioactivity perceived in atomic clocks, half life and shelf life are prevented by means of the invention.

A magnetometer comprises a diode structure including a diamond material having free electrons and free charge carriers. An electrical circuit is coupled to the diode structure and is operative to apply a forward bias voltage to the diode structure. An optical detector is operative to collect and measure an electroluminescence produced by the diode structure after the forward bias voltage is applied to the diode structure. A processor is coupled to the optical detector and is operative to determine a magnetic field based on the measured electroluminescence produced by the diode structure.

The present application discloses a sensor system that includes a sensor having a sensor surface, a sample cartridge including one or more flexible membranes and a membrane frame, the membrane frame including one or more openings covered by the one or more flexible membranes defining one or more wells for holding one or more samples, the flexible membrane having a sample side supporting the sample and an opposite sensor side, the sample cartridge being removably insertable in the sensor system such that the sensor side of the flexible membrane is positioned above and faces the sensor surface, a displacement mechanism that can be actuated to displace the flexible membrane toward the sensor surface such that the sample is moved to a position closer to the sensor surface, and an optical imaging system that detects light emitted from the sensor. Disclosed also are a cartridge cassette and a method of use.

In a magnetic field source detecting apparatus, a magnetic sensor unit detects an intensity and a direction of a measurement target magnetic field on or over a surface of a test target object; and a position estimating unit estimates a position in a depth direction of a magnetic field source that exists at an unspecified position inside a test target object on the basis of the intensities and the directions of the measurement target magnetic field detected by the magnetic sensor at at least two 2-dimensional positions of the surface.

The invention relates to a method for the hyperpolarization of a material sample (4), which hits a number of first spin moments (10) of a first spin moment type, wherein the number of first spin moments (10) is brought into interaction with a second spin moment (16) of a second spin moment type, wherein the first spin moments (10) are nuclear spin moments and the second spin moment (16) is an election spin moment, wherein the first and second spin moments (10, 16) are exposed to a homogeneous magnetic field (B), wherein the second spin moment (16) is polarized along the magnetic field (B), wherein the second spin moment (16) is coherently manipulated by means of a, preferably repeated, sequence (S) having a number of successive high-frequency pulses (P.sub.ki, P.sub.k′i) temporally offset to each by durations (T.sub.ki, T.sub.k′i, T), in such a way that a polarization transfer from the second spin moment (16) to the first spin moments (10) occurs, and wherein durations (T.sub.ki, T.sub.k′i, T) inversely proportional to a Lamor frequency (ω.sub.Larmor) of the first spin moments (10) in the magnetic field (B) are inserted between high-frequency pulses (P.sub.ki, P.sub.k′i).

Microwave resonator readout of the cavity-spin interaction between a spin defect center ensemble and a microwave resonator yields fidelities that are orders of magnitude higher than is possible with optical readouts. In microwave resonator readout, microwave photons probe a microwave resonator coupled to a spin defect center ensemble subjected to a physical parameter to be measured. The physical parameter shifts the spin defect centers' resonances, which in turn change the dispersion and/or absorption of the microwave resonator. The microwave photons probe these dispersion and/or absorption changes, yielding a measurement with higher visibility, lower shot noise, better sensitivity, and higher signal-to-noise ratio than a comparable fluorescence measurement. In addition, microwave resonator readout enables coherent averaging of spin defect center ensembles and is compatible with spin systems other than nitrogen vacancies in diamond.

An excitation light irradiation device includes a substrate having a color center. The color center is excited by an excitation light incident to the substrate. The substrate includes first and second reflection surfaces facing each other, and first and second end surfaces facing each other. When the excitation light enters into the substrate, the incident excitation light travels from the first end surface to the second end surfaces while repeatedly reflecting between the first and second reflection surfaces. The second end surface is inclined. The second end surface reflects the incident excitation light so as to cause the incident excitation light to be emitted from one of the first and second reflection surfaces.