High-dynamic-range vector magnetometry in solid-state systems

Abstract

Nitrogen vacancy (NV) center magnetometers offer theoretical advantages such as high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, and vector capability; however, achieving all these performance metrics simultaneously in a single device remains a significant challenge. Our study presents an NV-based vector magnetometry system optimized for high-sensitivity, wide-range magnetic field measurements to overcome this issue. Our approach utilizes a frequency-locking technique combined with frequency hopping, enabling robust tracking of resonance frequencies over a wide magnetic field range via a high-speed direct digital synthesizer. We achieve real-time vector field reconstruction with high temporal resolution by continuously monitoring the resonance frequency. The proposed system demonstrates significant improvements in dynamic range, sensitivity, and tracking speed, positioning it as an essential tool for a variety of quantum sensing applications.