A sensing apparatus for detecting and determining the magnitude of a static magnetic field has a first set of coils capable of producing a sweeping, quasi static, magnetic field when driven by a direct current and a second set of coils, for magnetic field modulation, positioned between the first set of coils capable of producing a low-frequency (audio), oscillating magnetic field when driven by an oscillating current. The magnetic fields induce a current through the semiconductor device which sampled to identify changes as a function of sweeping, quasi static magnetic field. To create an apparatus for detecting and identifying atomic scale defects in fully processed devices, a radio frequency circuit with a resonant component is added which provides an oscillating electromagnetic field in a direction perpendicular to that of the static magnetic field produced by the first set of coils.

Apparatus and methods for the detection of proteins in biological fluids such as urine using a label-free assay is described. Specific proteins are detected by their binding to highly specific capture reagents such as SOMAmers that are attached to the surface of a substrate. Changes to these capture reagents and their local environment upon protein binding modify the behavior of color centers (e.g., fluorescence, ionization state, spin state, etc.) embedded in the substrate beneath the bound capture reagents. These changes can be read out, for example, optically or electrically, for an individual color center or as an average response of many color centers.

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.

The disclosure relates to a receiving unit configured for acquiring MR signals from an examination object in a magnetic resonance device. The receiving unit may include a detector unit comprising a light source and a first optical detector, a sensor unit comprising a first optical magnetometer, a first optical waveguide connecting the sensor unit to the light source, and a second optical waveguide connecting the sensor unit to the first optical detector.

In order to improve the measurement sensitivity in measurement using a color center as a sensor, a sensor element (1) has a color center in a diamond crystal structure, wherein the electron spin state of the color center is a dressed state.

A magnetometer includes an electron spin defect body including a plurality of lattice point defects. A microwave field transmitter is operable to apply a microwave field to the electron spin defect body. An optical source is configured to emit input light of a first wavelength that excites the plurality of lattice point defects of the electron spin defect body from a ground state to an excited state. A first optical fiber has an input end optically coupled to the optical source and an output end. The output end is attached to a first face of the electron spin defect body and is arranged to direct the input light into the first face of the electron spin defect body. A second optical fiber has an output end and an input end. A photodetector is optically coupled to the output end of the second optical fiber.

The present disclosure is related to systems and methods for position determination. The method includes obtaining, via a plurality of sensors, real-time target magnetic field information of a target subject. The plurality of sensors may be configured on the target subject. The target subject may be located in a reference magnetic field in a medical system. The method includes determining real-time target position information of the target subject based on the real-time target magnetic field information of the target subject and magnetic field distribution information of the reference magnetic field in the medical system.

Apparatus and methods for the detection of proteins in biological fluids such as urine using a label-free assay is described. Specific proteins are detected by their binding to highly specific capture reagents such as SOMAmers that are attached to the surface of a substrate. Changes to these capture reagents and their local environment upon protein binding modify the behavior of color centers (e.g., fluorescence, ionization state, spin state, etc.) embedded in the substrate beneath the bound capture reagents. These changes can be read out, for example, optically or electrically, for an individual color center or as an average response of many color centers.

A magnetometer containing a crystal sensor with solid-state defects senses the magnitude and direction of a magnetic field. The solid-state defects in the crystal sensor absorb microwave and optical energy to transition between several energy states while emitting light intensity indicative of their spin states. The magnetic field alters the spin-state transitions of the solid-state defects by amounts depending on the solid-state defects' orientations with respect to the magnetic field. The optical read out, reporting the spin state of an ensemble of solid-state defects from one particular orientation class, can be used to lock microwave signals to the resonances associated with the spin-state transitions. The frequencies of the locked microwave signals can be used to reconstruct the magnetic field vector.

The present invention relates to a magnetometer (100) using optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR), where a solid state material (10), such as diamond, with an ensemble of paramagnetic defects, such as nitrogen vacancies centers NV, is applied. An optical cavity (20) is optically excited by an irradiation laser (25) arranged therefore. A coupling structure (30) causes a microwave excitation (Ω) of the paramagnetic defects, and a permanent magnetic field (40, B_C) causes a Zeeman splitting of the energy levels in the paramagnetic defects. A probing volume (PV) in the solid state material is thereby defined by the spatially overlapping volume of the optical excitation by the irradiation laser (25), the coupling structure (30) also exciting the defects, and the constant magnetic field. The magnetometer then measures an unknown magnetic field by detecting emission (27), e.g. fluorescence, from the defects in the probing volume (PV) from the double excitation of the defects by the irradiation laser, and the coupling structure exciting these defects.