High-Speed Quantum Magnetic Widefield Imaging

在化学部门化学测量和成像（CMI）项目和刺激竞争研究（EPSCoR）项目的支持下，特拉华大学的Mark Ku和他的研究小组正在开发一种基于金刚石中氮空位（NV）中心作为量子传感器的新型磁成像技术。这种使用NV量子传感器的新方法有望提供一套独特的能力，用于高空间分辨率和宽视场的弱磁场感应。高速、宽视场（WF） NV磁成像有潜力实现包括化学成像和量子传感在内的各种突破性应用。具体来说，Ku小组正在开发一种新的仪器-动态量子磁成像（DQMI）显微镜-这将在帧速率，空间分辨率和实时磁成像灵敏度方面推进最先进的技术。该研究团队正在寻求一种方法，将用于NV磁成像的新型摄像技术与NV传感器的量子控制相结合，以便为许多高影响测量和成像应用提供基础，包括自由基化合物及其氧化还原反应的实时WF检测；微米尺度核磁共振成像；用于化学传感的纳米粒子标签的成像、跟踪和计数以及神经元活动的成像。该项目的更广泛影响还包括在新量子技术开发中的潜在应用，以及为特拉华大学量子科学与工程研究生项目开发一门新课程。该研究项目还将为下一代科学家和工程师提供高级培训机会，包括来自不同背景的研究生和本科生。本项目的目标是开发一种新型的高速、宽视场动态量子磁成像（DQMI）显微镜，利用金刚石中的NV中心作为量子传感器。研究小组正在努力通过量子控制NV中心和环境来提高磁成像的灵敏度。DQMI方法有可能在大视场内以高达每秒1000帧（fps）的帧速率实时成像动态磁场，并以MHz采样率和亚微米分辨率进行相关成像。该研究团队正在通过集成一种新型的NV磁成像相机技术和NV传感器的量子控制来实现这些目标。Ku小组计划展示动态磁场实时成像、磁噪声和磁相关功能的新能力。通过控制NV中心和环境自旋之间的耦合来提高灵敏度的技术也正在开发中。此外，研究小组正在开发一种新技术，通过使用金刚石微芯片将NV中心与感兴趣的样品连接起来。通过教育活动，包括研究生和本科生的积极参与和培训，为下一代科学家和工程师做准备，提高了项目的广泛影响；继续关注在STEM领域中代表性不足的群体中招募、留住和提升学生；以及开发新的量子系统实验方法课程，作为特拉华大学新推出的量子科学与工程研究生课程的一部分。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging (CMI) program of the Chemistry Division and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), Mark Ku and his research group at the University of Delaware are developing a novel magnetic imaging technology based on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond as quantum sensors. This new approach to using NV quantum sensors promises a unique set of capabilities for sensing weak magnetic fields with high spatial resolution and over a wide field-of-view. High-speed, wide-field (WF) NV magnetic imaging has the potential to enable a variety of breakthrough applications involving chemical imaging and quantum sensing. Specifically, the Ku group is working to develop novel instrumentation – a dynamical quantum magnetic imaging (DQMI) microscope – that will advance the state-of-the-art in frame rate, spatial resolution, and sensitivity of real-time magnetic imaging. The research team is pursuing an approach that combines the integration of a novel camera technology for NV magnetic imaging and the quantum control of NV sensors in order to provide a foundation for a number of high-impact measurement and imaging applications, including real-time WF detection of radical compounds and their redox reactions; micron-scale nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; imaging, tracking, and counting of nano-particle tags for chemical sensing; and imaging of neuronal activity. The broader impacts of the project also include potential applications in the development of new quantum technologies, and the development of a new course for the Quantum Science and Engineering graduate program at the University of Delaware. The research project also will provide advanced training opportunities for the next generation of scientists and engineers, including graduate and undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds.The goal of this project is to develop a novel high-speed, wide-field dynamical quantum magnetic imaging (DQMI) microscope using NV centers in diamond as quantum sensors. The research team is working to enhance the sensitivity of magnetic imaging through quantum control of the NV centers and the environment. The DQMI approach has the potential to enable real-time imaging of dynamic magnetic fields over a large field-of-view at frame rates up to ~1000 frames-per-second (fps) and correlation imaging with MHz sampling rates and sub-micron resolution. The research team is working toward these goals by integrating a novel camera technology for NV magnetic imaging and quantum control of the NV sensors. The Ku group plans to demonstrate new capabilities for real-time imaging of dynamical magnetic fields, magnetic noise, and magnetic correlation functions. Techniques are also being developed to enhance sensitivity by controlling the coupling between NV centers and environmental spins. Furthermore, the research team is developing a novel technique to interface NV centers with a sample of interest via the use of diamond micro-chips. The broader impacts of the project are enhanced through educational activities, including active involvement and training of graduate and undergraduate students to prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers; a continued focus on recruiting, retaining, and advancing students from groups that are underrepresented in STEM fields; and the development of a new Experimental Methods for Quantum Systems course as part of the newly launched Quantum Science and Engineering graduate program at the University of Delaware.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.