US 10,648,933 B2 · Methods and apparatus for optically detecting magnetic resonance

Abstract

A light-trapping geometry enhances the sensitivity of strain, temperature, and/or electromagnetic field measurements using nitrogen vacancies in bulk diamond, which have exterior dimensions on the order of millimeters. In an example light-trapping geometry, a laser beam enters the bulk diamond, which may be at room temperature, through a facet or notch. The beam propagates along a path inside the bulk diamond that includes many total internal reflections off the diamond's surfaces. The NVs inside the bulk diamonds absorb the beam as it propagates. Photodetectors measure the transmitted beam or fluorescence emitted by the NVs. The resulting transmission or emission spectrum represents the NVs' quantum mechanical states, which in turn vary with temperature, magnetic field strength, electric field strength, strain/pressure, etc.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for sensing quantum mechanical spin states of color centers in a solid-state host, the method comprising:

coupling an excitation beam into the solid-state host along a propagation path within the solid-state host having a length longer than a longest exterior dimension of the solid-state host;
detecting, with a detector, fluorescence emitted by the color centers in response to the excitation beam;
and
determining, from the fluorescence, the quantum mechanical spin states of the color centers.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

16/232,137Filed 26 Dec 2018 · continuation

Priority

8 Jan 2014

Published

US 2019/0145919 A116 May 2019

Granted

12 May 2020

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G01N 24/006
Investigating or analyzing materials by the use of nuclear magnetic resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance or other spin effects: using…
G01R 33/323
Excitation or detection systems, e.g. using radio frequency signals: detection of MR without the use of RF or microwaves, e.g. force-detected MR,…
G01N
Investigating or analysing materials by determining their chemical or physical properties
G01R
Measuring electric variables

Family

Application61/924,803Us provisional application · filed 8 Jan 2014

Application14/325,937Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Jul 2014

US 2019/0145919 A1Pre-grant publication · published 16 May 2019

US 10,197,515 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2015/0192532 A1Published application

US 10,648,933 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Methods and apparatus for optically detecting magnetic resonance

Life of this patent

Methods and apparatus for optically detecting magnetic resonance

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20