Quantum magnetometry based on optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond nano or microcrystals is a promising technology for sensitive, integrated magnetic-field sensors. Currently, this technology is still cost-intensive and mainly found in research. Here we propose one of the smallest fully integrated quantum sensors to date based on nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond microcrystals. It is an extremely cost-effective device that integrates a pump light source, photodiode, microwave antenna, filtering and fluorescence detection. Thus, the sensor offers an all-electric interface without the need to adjust or connect optical components. A sensitivity of 28.32$\mathrm{nT}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ and a theoretical shot noise limited sensitivity of 2.87 $\mathrm{nT}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ is reached. Since only generally available parts were used, the sensor can be easily produced in a small series. The form factor of (6.9 × 3.9 × 15.9) ${\mathrm{mm}}^3$ combined with the integration level is the smallest fully integrated NV-based sensor proposed so far. With a power consumption of around $0.1\mathrm{W}$, this sensor becomes interesting for a wide range of stationary and handheld systems. This development paves the way for the wide usage of quantum magnetometers in non-laboratory environments and technical applications.

Quantum magnetometry based on optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of nitrogen vacancy centers in nano- or micro-diamonds is a promising technology for precise magnetic-field sensors. Here, we propose a new, low-cost and stand-alone sensor setup that employs machine learning on an embedded device, so-called edge machine learning. We train an artificial neural network with data acquired from a continuous-wave ODMR setup and subsequently use this pre-trained network on the sensor device to deduce the magnitude of the magnetic field from recorded ODMR spectra. In our proposed sensor setup, a low-cost and low-power ESP32 microcontroller development board is employed to control data recording and perform inference of the network. In a proof-of-concept study, we show that the setup is capable of measuring magnetic fields with high precision and has the potential to enable robust and accessible sensor applications with a wide measuring range.

We investigate the magnetic field-dependent fluorescence lifetime of microdiamond powder containing a high density of nitrogen-vacancy centers. This constitutes a non-intensity quantity for robust, all-optical magnetic field sensing. We propose a fiber-based setup in which the excitation intensity is modulated in a frequency range up to $100\mathrm{MHz}$. The change in magnitude and phase of the fluorescence relative to $B=0$ is recorded where the phase shows a maximum in magnetic contrast of ${5.8}^{\circ }$ at $13\mathrm{MHz}$. A lock-in amplifier-based setup utilizing the change in phase at this frequency shows a 100 times higher immunity to fluctuations in the optical path compared to the intensity-based approach. A noise floor of $20\mathsf{\mu }\mathrm{T}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ and a shot-noise-limited sensitivity of $0.95\mathsf{\mu }\mathrm{T}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ were determined.

In quantum sensing of magnetic fields, ensembles of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond offer high sensitivity, high bandwidth and outstanding spatial resolution while operating in harsh environments. Moreover, the orientation of defect centers along four crystal axes forms an intrinsic coordinate system, enabling vector magnetometry within a single diamond crystal. While most vector magnetometers rely on a known bias magnetic field for full recovery of three-dimensional (3D) field information, employing external 3D Helmholtz coils or permanent magnets results in bulky, laboratory-bound setups, impeding miniaturization of the device. Here, a novel approach is presented that utilizes a fiber-integrated microscale coil at the fiber tip to generate a localized uniaxial magnetic field. The same fiber-tip coil is used in parallel for spin control by combining dc and microwave signals in a bias tee. To implement vector magnetometry using a uniaxial bias field, the orientation of the diamond crystal is preselected and then fully characterized by rotating a static magnetic field in three planes of rotation. The measurement of vector magnetic fields in the full solid angle is demonstrated with a shot-noise-limited sensitivity of $19.4{\text{nT/Hz}}^{1/2}$ and microscale spatial resolution while achieving a fiber sensor head cross section of less than $1{\text{mm}}^2$.

With the advent of quantum technology, the need for affordable, flexible and robust laboratory experiments not only for students, but also at high school level is increasing. Here, for the first time, we report on a simple modular 3D printed low-cost (10 000 €), but also have shortcomings from a didactical point of view, as all the components of the setup are hidden within a ’black box’, doomed to be successful ’plug and play’. In contrast, our open-source experimental kit consists of optical components that are placed inside 3D printed open-framed cubes, that can be arranged freely on a grid. This modular and flexible design can provide an inquiry-based learning experience both at undergraduate and high school level.

In all-optical magnetic field sensing using nitrogen-vacancy-center-rich diamonds, an ambiguity in the range of 0–8 mT can be observed. We propose a way to resolve this ambiguity using the magnetic-field-dependent fluorescence lifetime. We therefore recorded the frequency response of the fluorescence upon modulation of the excitation intensity in a frequency range of 1–$100\mathrm{MHz}$. The magnetic-field-dependent decay dynamics led to different response characteristics for magnetic fields below and above $3\mathrm{mT}$, allowing us to resolve the ambiguity. We used a physics-based model function to extract fit parameters, which we used for regression, and compared it to an alternative approach purely based on an artificial neural network.