Magneto-optical defect sensor with common rf and magnetic fields generator

Abstract

Systems and apparatuses are disclosed for providing a uniform RF field and magnetic bias field to a nitrogen vacancy center diamond.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magnetometer comprising:
 a magneto-optical defect center material with a plurality of magneto-optical defect centers;   a first optical excitation source that transmits excitation light that excites at least a portion of the magneto-optical defect centers of the magneto-optical defect center material;   a first photo sensor that receives generated light that is generated by the portion of the magneto-optical defect centers;   a plurality of radio frequency (RF) elements spaced around the magneto-optical defect center material, wherein the plurality of RF elements generate a microwave signal that is substantially uniform over the magneto-optical defect center material and generate a magnetic bias field to the magneto-optical defect center material; and   a processor operatively coupled to the first photo sensor, wherein the processor is configured to determine a magnitude of an external magnetic field based on a signal received from the first photo sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetometer of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of RF elements are spaced about the magneto-optical defect center material to form a cuboid shape, and wherein the magneto-optical defect center material is within the cuboid shape. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetometer of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of RF elements is six RF elements. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetometer of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of RF elements are arranged in a cube formation, and wherein the magneto-optical defect center material is within the cube formation. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetometer of  claim 1 , wherein a first RF element of the plurality of RF elements comprises an ingress hole through which the excitation light passes, and wherein a second RF element of the plurality of RF elements comprises an egress hole through which the generated light passes. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetometer of  claim 5 , wherein the excitation light passes through a first side of the magneto-optical defect center material, and wherein the generated light passes through a second side of the magneto-optical defect center material. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetometer of  claim 6 , wherein the first side of the magneto-optical defect center material and the second side of the magneto-optical defect center material are opposite sides of the magneto-optical defect center material. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetometer of  claim 1 , wherein a first RF element of the plurality of RF elements comprises a first ingress hole through which the excitation light passes, wherein a second RF element of the plurality of RF elements comprises a second ingress hole through which the excitation light passes,
 wherein a third RF element of the plurality of RF elements comprises a first egress hole through which at least a first portion of generated light passes.   
     
     
         9 . The magnetometer of  claim 8 , further comprising a second optical excitation source, wherein the first optical excitation source transmits a first portion of the excitation light and the second optical excitation source transmits a second portion of the excitation light. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetometer of  claim 8 , wherein a fourth RF element of the plurality of RF elements comprises a second egress hole through which at least a second portion of the generated light passes. 
     
     
         11 . The magnetometer of  claim 10 , wherein the excitation light passes through a first side of the magneto-optical defect center material and through a second side of the magneto-optical defect center material, and wherein the generated light passes through a third side of the magneto-optical defect center material and through a fourth side of the magneto-optical defect center material. 
     
     
         12 . The magnetometer of  claim 11 , wherein the first side of the magneto-optical defect center material and the third side of the magneto-optical defect center material are opposite sides of the magneto-optical defect center material, and wherein the second side of the magneto-optical defect center material and the fourth side of the magneto-optical defect center material are opposite sides of the magneto-optical defect center material. 
     
     
         13 . The magnetometer of  claim 1 , wherein each of the RF elements comprises an RF connection that is configured to receive a feed signal, and wherein the feed signal generates the microwave signal. 
     
     
         14 . The magnetometer of  claim 13 , wherein the feed signal further generates the magnetic field bias. 
     
     
         15 . The magnetometer of  claim 14 , wherein the feed signal for each of the RF elements is a different RF feed signal. 
     
     
         16 . The magnetometer of  claim 1 , wherein the magneto-optical defect center material is diamond material. 
     
     
         17 . The magnetometer of  claim 1 , wherein the magneto-optical defect centers are nitrogen vacancy centers. 
     
     
         18 . A device comprising:
 a magneto-optical defect center material with a plurality of magneto-optical defect centers; and   a plurality of radio frequency (RF) elements spaced around the magneto-optical defect center material, wherein the plurality of RF elements generate a microwave signal that is substantially uniform over the magneto-optical defect center material and generate a magnetic bias field to the magneto-optical defect center material.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of RF elements are spaced about the magneto-optical defect center material to form a cuboid shape, and wherein the magneto-optical defect center material is within the cuboid shape. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of RF elements is six RF elements. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of RF elements are arranged in a cube formation, and wherein the magneto-optical defect center material is within the cube formation. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein a first RF element of the plurality of RF elements comprises an ingress hole through which excitation light passes, wherein the excitation light excites at least a portion of the plurality of magneto-optical defect centers, and wherein a second RF element of the plurality of RF elements comprises an egress hole through which generated light passes, wherein the generated light is generated by the portion of the plurality of magneto-optical defect centers. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the excitation light passes through a first side of the magneto-optical defect center material, and wherein the generated light passes through a second side of the magneto-optical defect center material. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the first side of the magneto-optical defect center material and the second side of the magneto-optical defect center material are opposite sides of the magneto-optical defect center material. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 22 , further comprising a photo sensor that receives at least a portion of the generated light. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein a first RF element of the plurality of RF elements comprises a first ingress hole through which excitation light passes, wherein a second RF element of the plurality of RF elements comprises a second ingress hole through which excitation light passes, wherein the excitation light excites at least a portion of the plurality of magneto-optical defect centers,
 wherein a third RF element of the plurality of RF elements comprises a first egress hole through which at least a first portion of generated light passes, and wherein the generated light is generated by the portion of the plurality of magneto-optical defect centers.   
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein a fourth RF element of the plurality of RF elements comprises a second egress hole through which at least a second portion of the generated light passes. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the excitation light passes through a first side of the magneto-optical defect center material and through a second side of the magneto-optical defect center material, and wherein the generated light passes through a third side of the magneto-optical defect center material and through a fourth side of the magneto-optical defect center material. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the first side of the magneto-optical defect center material and the third side of the magneto-optical defect center material are opposite sides of the magneto-optical defect center material, and wherein the second side of the magneto-optical defect center material and the fourth side of the magneto-optical defect center material are opposite sides of the magneto-optical defect center material. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein each of the RF elements comprises an RF connection that is configured to receive a feed signal, and wherein the feed signal generates the microwave signal. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the feed signal further generates the magnetic field bias. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the feed signal for each of the RF elements is a different RF feed signal. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the magneto-optical defect center material is diamond material. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the magneto-optical defect centers are nitrogen vacancy centers. 
     
     
         35 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at each of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) elements, a feed signal;   generating, by the plurality of RF elements, a microwave signal that is substantially uniform over a magneto-optical defect center material that has a plurality of magneto-optical defect centers; and   generating, by the plurality of RF elements, a magnetic bias field that is applied to the magneto-optical defect center material.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 passing excitation light though a hole of a first RF element of the plurality of RF elements, wherein the excitation light excites at least a portion of the magneto-optical defect centers; and   transmitting generated light through a hole of a second RF element of the plurality of RF elements, wherein the generated light is generated by the portion of the magneto-optical defect centers.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising receiving, at a photo sensor, at least a portion of the generated light. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the receiving the feed signal comprises receiving a unique feed signal at each of the plurality of RF elements. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 passing excitation light though a hole of a first RF element of the plurality of RF elements and through a hole of a second RF element of the plurality of RF elements, wherein the excitation light excites at least a portion of the magneto-optical defect centers; and   transmitting at least a first portion of generated light through a hole of a third RF element of the plurality of RF elements, wherein the generated light is generated by the portion of the magneto-optical defect centers.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising transmitting a second portion of the generated light through a hole of a fourth RF element of the plurality of elements. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising receiving, at a photo sensor, the first portion of the generated light. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 receiving, at a first photo sensor, the first portion of the generated light; and   receiving, at a second photo sensor, the second portion of the generated light.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the magneto-optical defect center material is diamond material. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the magneto-optical defect centers are nitrogen vacancy centers.