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arXiv · 2502.18400

Quantum Imaging of Photonic Spin Texture in an OAM Beam with NV Centers in Diamond

Shoaib Mahmud·Wei Zhang·Farid Kalhor·Pronoy Das·Zubin Jacob
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Abstract

Photonic spin texture (PST), the spatial distribution of the spin angular momentum (SAM) of light, is connected to unique properties of light, such as optical skyrmions and topological optical N-invariants. There has been recent progress on the generation and manipulation of PST using various methodologies. However, a challenge remains for the sub-wavelength characterization of PST. Here, we demonstrate nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond as nanoscale quantum sensors for imaging the PST of a beam with orbital angular momentum (OAM). Leveraging the coherent interaction between photon spin and NV center electron spin at cryogenic temperature (77 K), and using the Hahn-Echo magnetometry technique, we experimentally demonstrate the imprinting of the PST on the quantum phase of NV centers. Our work can lead to the development of a quantum imaging platform capable of characterization of the spin texture of light at sub-wavelength scales.

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Shoaib Mahmud, Wei Zhang, Farid Kalhor, Pronoy Das, Zubin Jacob. 2025-02-25. Quantum Imaging of Photonic Spin Texture in an OAM Beam with NV Centers in Diamond. https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.18400

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