Abstract

Sensors based on spin qubits in 2D crystals offer the prospect of nanoscale sensing volumes, where the close proximity of the sensor and source could provide access to otherwise inaccessible signals. For AC magnetometry, the sensitivity and frequency range is typically limited by the noise spectrum, which determines the qubit coherence time. This poses a problem for III-V materials, as the non-zero spin of the host nuclei introduces a considerable source of magnetic noise. Here, we overcome this with a sensing protocol based on phase modulated continuous concatenated dynamic decoupling, which extends the coherence time towards the T₁ limit at room temperature and enables tuneable narrowband AC magnetometry. We demonstrate the protocol with an ensemble of negatively charged boron vacancies in hexagonal boron nitride, detecting in-plane AC fields within ±150 MHz of the electron spin resonance, and out-of-plane fields in the range of ∼10⁻¹⁵⁰ MHz. We measure an AC magnetic field sensitivity of ∼1 µT/√Hz at ∼2.5 GHz, for a sensor volume of ∼0.1 µm3, and demonstrate that the sensor can reconstruct the AC magnetic field from a wire loop antenna. This work establishes the viability of spin defects in 2D materials for high frequency magnetometry, demonstrating sensitivities that are comparable to nitrogen vacancy centres in diamond for microscopic sensing volumes, and with wide-ranging applications across science and technology.

Abstract

Sensors based on spin qubits in 2D crystals offer the prospect of nanoscale sensing volumes, where the close proximity of the sensor and source could provide access to otherwise inaccessible signals. For AC magnetometry, the sensitivity and frequency range is typically limited by the noise spectrum, which determines the qubit coherence time. This poses a problem for III-V materials, as the non-zero spin of the host nuclei introduces a considerable source of magnetic noise. Here, we overcome this with a sensing protocol based on phase modulated continuous concatenated dynamic decoupling, which extends the coherence time towards the T₁ limit at room temperature and enables tuneable narrowband AC magnetometry. We demonstrate the protocol with an ensemble of negatively charged boron vacancies in hexagonal boron nitride, detecting in-plane AC fields within ±150 MHz of the electron spin resonance, and out-of-plane fields in the range of ∼10⁻¹⁵⁰ MHz. We measure an AC magnetic field sensitivity of ∼1 µT/√Hz at ∼2.5 GHz, for a sensor volume of ∼0.1 µm3, and demonstrate that the sensor can reconstruct the AC magnetic field from a wire loop antenna. This work establishes the viability of spin defects in 2D materials for high frequency magnetometry, demonstrating sensitivities that are comparable to nitrogen vacancy centres in diamond for microscopic sensing volumes, and with wide-ranging applications across science and technology.

Abstract

Sensors based on spin qubits in 2D crystals offer the prospect of nanoscale sensing volumes, where the close proximity of the sensor and source could provide access to otherwise inaccessible signals. For AC magnetometry, the sensitivity and frequency range is typically limited by the noise spectrum, which determines the qubit coherence time. This poses a problem for III-V materials, as the non-zero spin of the host nuclei introduces a considerable source of magnetic noise. Here, we overcome this with a sensing protocol based on phase modulated continuous concatenated dynamic decoupling, which extends the coherence time towards the T₁ limit at room temperature and enables tuneable narrowband AC magnetometry. We demonstrate the protocol with an ensemble of negatively charged boron vacancies in hexagonal boron nitride, detecting in-plane AC fields within ±150 MHz of the electron spin resonance, and out-of-plane fields in the range of ∼10⁻¹⁵⁰ MHz. We measure an AC magnetic field sensitivity of ∼1 µT/√Hz at ∼2.5 GHz, for a sensor volume of ∼0.1 µm3, and demonstrate that the sensor can reconstruct the AC magnetic field from a wire loop antenna. This work establishes the viability of spin defects in 2D materials for high frequency magnetometry, demonstrating sensitivities that are comparable to nitrogen vacancy centres in diamond for microscopic sensing volumes, and with wide-ranging applications across science and technology.

Abstract

Sensors based on spin qubits in 2D crystals offer the prospect of nanoscale sensing volumes, where the close proximity of the sensor and source could provide access to otherwise inaccessible signals. For AC magnetometry, the sensitivity and frequency range is typically limited by the noise spectrum, which determines the qubit coherence time. This poses a problem for III-V materials, as the non-zero spin of the host nuclei introduces a considerable source of magnetic noise. Here, we overcome this with a sensing protocol based on phase modulated continuous concatenated dynamic decoupling, which extends the coherence time towards the T₁ limit at room temperature and enables tuneable narrowband AC magnetometry. We demonstrate the protocol with an ensemble of negatively charged boron vacancies in hexagonal boron nitride, detecting in-plane AC fields within ±150 MHz of the electron spin resonance, and out-of-plane fields in the range of ∼10⁻¹⁵⁰ MHz. We measure an AC magnetic field sensitivity of ∼1 µT/√Hz at ∼2.5 GHz, for a sensor volume of ∼0.1 µm3, and demonstrate that the sensor can reconstruct the AC magnetic field from a wire loop antenna. This work establishes the viability of spin defects in 2D materials for high frequency magnetometry, demonstrating sensitivities that are comparable to nitrogen vacancy centres in diamond for microscopic sensing volumes, and with wide-ranging applications across science and technology.