arXiv subjects

David A. Simpson

Publications and source records attributed to David A. Simpson.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Remote Nanodiamond Magnetometry

Optical fibres have transformed the way people interact with the world and now permeate many areas of science. Optical fibres are traditionally thought of as insensitive to magnetic fields, however many application areas from mining to biomedicine would benefit from fibre-based remote magnetometry devices. In this work, we realise such a device by embedding nanoscale magnetic sensors into tellurite glass fibres. Remote magnetometry is performed on magnetically active defect centres in nanodiamonds embedded into the glass matrix. Standard optical magnetometry techniques are applied to initialize and detect local magnetic field changes with a measured sensitivity of 26 micron Tesla/square root(Hz). Our approach utilizes straight-forward optical excitation, simple focusing elements, and low power components. We demonstrate remote magnetometry by direct reporting of the magnetic ground states of nitrogen-vacancy defect centres in the optical fibres. In addition, we present and describe theoretically an all-optical technique that is ideally suited to remote fibre-based sensing. The implications of our results broaden the applications of optical fibres, which now have the potential to underpin a new generation of medical magneto-endoscopes and remote mining sensors.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Scanning nano-spin ensemble microscope for nanoscale magnetic and thermal imaging

Quantum sensors based on solid-state spins provide tremendous opportunities in a wide range of fields from basic physics and chemistry to biomedical imaging. However, integrating them into a scanning probe microscope to enable practical, nanoscale quantum imaging is a highly challenging task. Recently, the use of single spins in diamond in conjunction with atomic force microscopy techniques has allowed significant progress towards this goal, but generalisation of this approach has so far been impeded by long acquisition times or by the absence of simultaneous topographic information. Here we report on a scanning quantum probe microscope which solves both issues, by employing a nano-spin ensemble hosted in a nanodiamond. This approach provides up to an order of magnitude gain in acquisition time, whilst preserving sub-100 nm spatial resolution both for the quantum sensor and topographic images. We demonstrate two applications of this microscope. We first image nanoscale clusters of maghemite particles through both spin resonance spectroscopy and spin relaxometry, under ambient conditions. Our images reveal fast magnetic field fluctuations in addition to a static component, indicating the presence of both superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic particles. We next demonstrate a new imaging modality where the nano-spin ensemble is used as a thermometer. We use this technique to map the photo-induced heating generated by laser irradiation of a single gold nanoparticle in a fluid environment. This work paves the way towards new applications of quantum probe microscopy such as thermal/magnetic imaging of operating microelectronic devices and magnetic detection of ion channels in cell membranes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Magneto-optical imaging of thin magnetic films using spins in diamond

Imaging the fields of magnetic materials provides crucial insight into the physical and chemical processes surrounding magnetism, and has been a key ingredient in the spectacular development of magnetic data storage. Existing approaches using the magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE), x-ray and electron microscopy have limitations that constrain further development, and there is increasing demand for imaging and characterisation of magnetic phenomena in real time with high spatial resolution. In this work, we show how the magneto-optical response of an array of negatively-charged nitrogen-vacancy spins in diamond can be used to image and map the sub-micron stray magnetic field patterns from thin ferromagnetic films. Using optically detected magnetic resonance, we demonstrate wide-field magnetic imaging over 100x100 μm^2 with a diffraction-limited spatial resolution of 440 nm at video frame rates, under ambient conditions. We demonstrate a novel all-optical spin relaxation contrast imaging approach which can image magnetic structures in the absence of an applied microwave field. Straightforward extensions promise imaging with sub-μT sensitivity and sub-optical spatial and millisecond temporal resolution. This work establishes practical diamond-based wide-field microscopy for rapid high-sensitivity characterisation and imaging of magnetic samples, with the capability for investigating magnetic phenomena such as domain wall and skyrmion dynamics and the spin Hall effect in metals.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Tracking individual nanodiamonds in Drosophila melanogaster embryos

Tracking the dynamics of fluorescent nanoparticles during embryonic development allows insights into the physical state of the embryo and, potentially, molecular processes governing developmental mechanisms. In this work, we investigate the motion of individual fluorescent nanodiamonds micro-injected into Drosophila melanogaster embryos prior to cellularisation. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and wide-field imaging techniques are applied to individual fluorescent nanodiamonds in blastoderm cells during stage 5 of development to a depth of ~40 μm. The majority of nanodiamonds in the blastoderm cells during cellularisation exhibit free diffusion with an average diffusion coefficient of (6 $\pm$ 3) x 10$^{-3}$ μm$^2$/s, (mean $\pm$ SD). Driven motion in the blastoderm cells was also observed with an average velocity of 0.13 $\pm$ 0.10 μm/s (mean $\pm$ SD) μm/s and an average applied force of 0.07 $\pm$ 0.05 pN (mean $\pm$ SD). Nanodiamonds in the periplasm between the nuclei and yolk were also found to undergo free diffusion with a significantly larger diffusion coefficient of (63 $\pm$ 35) x10$^{-3}$ μm$^2$/s (mean $\pm$ SD). Driven motion in this region exhibited similar average velocities and applied forces compared to the blastoderm cells indicating the transport dynamics in the two cytoplasmic regions are analogous.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2013

Electronic properties and metrology of the diamond NV- center under pressure

The negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV-) center in diamond has realized new frontiers in quantum technology. Here, the center's optical and spin resonances are observed under hydrostatic pressures up to 60 GPa. Our observations motivate powerful new techniques to measure pressure and image high pressure magnetic and electric phenomena. Our observations further reveal a fundamental inadequacy of the current model of the center and provide new insight into its electronic structure.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Single molecule NMR detection and spectroscopy using single spins in diamond

Nanomagnetometry using the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centre in diamond has attracted a great deal of interest because of the combined features of room temperature operation, nanoscale resolution and high sensitivity. One of the important goals for nano-magnetometry is to be able to detect nanoscale nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in individual molecules. Our theoretical analysis shows how a single molecule at the surface of diamond, with characteristic NMR frequencies, can be detected using a proximate NV centre on a time scale of order seconds with nanometer precision. We perform spatio-temporal resolution optimisation and also outline paths to greater sensitivity. In addition, the method is suitable for application in low and relatively inhomogeneous background magnetic fields in contrast to both conventional liquid and solid state NMR spectroscopy.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Detection of atomic spin labels in a lipid bi-layer using a single-spin nanodiamond probe

Magnetic field fluctuations arising from fundamental spins are ubiquitous in nanoscale biology, and are a rich source of information about the processes that generate them. However, the ability to detect the few spins involved without averaging over large ensembles has remained elusive. Here we demonstrate the detection of gadolinium spin labels in an artificial cell membrane under ambient conditions using a single-spin nanodiamond sensor. Changes in the spin relaxation time of the sensor located in the lipid bilayer were optically detected and found to be sensitive to near-individual proximal gadolinium atomic labels. The detection of such small numbers of spins in a model biological setting, with projected detection times of one second, opens a new pathway for in-situ nanoscale detection of dynamical processes in biology.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2010

Energy transfer up-conversion in Tm3+-doped silica fiber

A study of the mechanisms responsible for the infra-red to near infra-red up-conversion in Tm3+-doped silica fibers is presented. Upconversion luminescence was observed from the 3H4 level of Tm3+ under 1586 nm pumping into the 3F4 level. The quadratic dependence of the up-conversion luminescence at 800 nm on the 1800 nm luminescence from the 3F4 level confirms that the 3H4 level is populated by a two photon process. Two possible processes are proposed as mechanisms responsible for the up-conversion: excited state absorption and energy transfer up-conversion. The decay characteristics of the luminescence from the 3H4 level were studied under direct and indirect pumping at 786 and 1586 nm, respectively. By comparing the decay waveforms to the solution of a simple set of rate equations, the energy transfer up-conversion process (3F4, 3F4 ! 3H4, 3H6) was established at Tm2O3 concentrations greater than 200 ppm.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2010

Chromium single photon emitters in diamond fabricated by ion implantation

Controlled fabrication and identification of bright single photon emitters is at the heart of quantum optics and materials science. Here we demonstrate a controlled engineering of a chromium bright single photon source in bulk diamond by ion implantation. The Cr center has fully polarized emission with a ZPL centered at 749 nm, FWHM of 4 nm, an extremely short lifetime of ~1 ns, and a count rate of 500 kcounts/s. By combining the polarization measurements and the vibronic spectra, a model of the center has been proposed consisting of one interstitial chromium atom with a transition dipole along one of the <100> directions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2008

Visible and near infra-red up-conversion in Tm3+/Yb3+ co-doped silica fibres under 980 nm excitation

The spectroscopic properties of Tm3+/Yb3+ co-doped silica fibers under excitation at 980 nm are reported. Three distinct up-conversion fluorescence bands were observed in the visible to near infra-red regions. The blue and red fluorescence bands at 475 and 650 nm, respectively, were found to originate from the 1G4 level of Tm3+. A three step up-conversion process was established as the populating mechanism for these fluorescence bands. The fluorescence band at 800 nm was found to originate from two possible transitions in Tm3+; one being the transition from the 3H4 to 3H6 manifold which was found to dominate at low pump powers; the other being the transition from the 1G4 to 3H6 level which dominates at higher pump powers. The fluorescence lifetime of the 3H4 and 3F4 levels of Tm3+ and 2F5/2 level of Yb3+ were studied as a function of Yb3+ concentration, with no significant energy back transfer from Tm3+ to Yb3+ observed.

physics.optics↗