Spin-Dependent Dynamics of Photocarrier Generation in Electrically Detected Nitrogen-Vacancy-Based Quantum Sensing

Abstract

Electrical detection of nitrogen-vacancy (N-V) centers in diamond is advantageous for developing and integrating quantum information processing devices and quantum sensors and has the potential to achieve a higher collection efficiency than that of optical techniques. However, the mechanism for the electrical detection of N-V spins is not fully understood. In this study, we observe positive contrast in photocurrent detected magnetic resonance (PDMR). Note that negative PDMR contrast is usually observed. To discuss the sign of the PDMR contrast, we numerically analyze the dynamics of photocarrier generation by N-V centers using a seven-level rate model. It is found that the sign of the PDMR contrast depends on the difference in the photocurrent generated from the excited states and the metastable state of N-V centers. Furthermore, we demonstrate ac magnetic field sensing using spin coherence with the PDMR technique. ac magnetic field measurement with the PDMR technique is still challenging because the noise from a fluctuating magnetic environment is greater than the measured signal. Here, we introduce noise suppression using a phase-cycling-based noise-canceling technique. We demonstrate electrically detected ac magnetic field sensing with a sensitivity of 29 nT Hz[−1/2]. Finally, we discuss sensitivity enhancement based on the proposed model.