A single spin in hexagonal boron nitride for vectorial quantum magnetometry

Abstract Quantum sensing based on solid-state spin defects provides a uniquely versatile platform for nanoscale magnetometry under diverse environmental conditions. Operation of most sensors used to-date is based on projective measurement along a single axis combined with computational extrapolation...

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Main Authors: Carmem M. Gilardoni, Simone Eizagirre Barker, Catherine L. Curtin, Stephanie A. Fraser, Oliver. F. J. Powell, Dillon K. Lewis, Xiaoxi Deng, Andrew J. Ramsay, Sonachand Adhikari, Chi Li, Igor Aharonovich, Hark Hoe Tan, Mete Atatüre, Hannah L. Stern
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59642-0
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author Carmem M. Gilardoni
Simone Eizagirre Barker
Catherine L. Curtin
Stephanie A. Fraser
Oliver. F. J. Powell
Dillon K. Lewis
Xiaoxi Deng
Andrew J. Ramsay
Sonachand Adhikari
Chi Li
Igor Aharonovich
Hark Hoe Tan
Mete Atatüre
Hannah L. Stern
author_facet Carmem M. Gilardoni
Simone Eizagirre Barker
Catherine L. Curtin
Stephanie A. Fraser
Oliver. F. J. Powell
Dillon K. Lewis
Xiaoxi Deng
Andrew J. Ramsay
Sonachand Adhikari
Chi Li
Igor Aharonovich
Hark Hoe Tan
Mete Atatüre
Hannah L. Stern
author_sort Carmem M. Gilardoni
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Quantum sensing based on solid-state spin defects provides a uniquely versatile platform for nanoscale magnetometry under diverse environmental conditions. Operation of most sensors used to-date is based on projective measurement along a single axis combined with computational extrapolation. Here, we show that an individually addressable carbon-related spin defect in hexagonal boron nitride is a multi-axis nanoscale sensor with large dynamic range. For this spin-1 system, we demonstrate how its spin-dependent photodynamics give rise to three optically detected spin resonances that show up to 90% contrast and are not quenched under off-axis magnetic field exceeding 100 mT, enabling $$\mu \,{{\rm{T}}}/{{{\rm{Hz}}}^{-1/2}}$$ μ T / Hz − 1 / 2 sensitivity. Finally, we show how this system can be used to unambiguously determine the three components of a target magnetic field via the use of two bias fields. Alongside these features, the room-temperature operation and the nanometer-scale proximity enabled by the van der Waals host material further consolidate this system as a promising quantum sensing platform.
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spelling doaj-art-4dd5900c16cf469e92f8091be795e18e2025-08-20T02:03:32ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-011611910.1038/s41467-025-59642-0A single spin in hexagonal boron nitride for vectorial quantum magnetometryCarmem M. Gilardoni0Simone Eizagirre Barker1Catherine L. Curtin2Stephanie A. Fraser3Oliver. F. J. Powell4Dillon K. Lewis5Xiaoxi Deng6Andrew J. Ramsay7Sonachand Adhikari8Chi Li9Igor Aharonovich10Hark Hoe Tan11Mete Atatüre12Hannah L. Stern13Cavendish Laboratory, University of CambridgeCavendish Laboratory, University of CambridgeCavendish Laboratory, University of CambridgeCavendish Laboratory, University of CambridgeCavendish Laboratory, University of CambridgeCavendish Laboratory, University of CambridgeCavendish Laboratory, University of CambridgeHitachi Cambridge Laboratory, Hitachi Europe Ltd.ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems, Department of Electronic Materials Engineering, Research School of Physics, The Australian National UniversityARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems, Faculty of Science, University of Technology SydneyARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems, Faculty of Science, University of Technology SydneyARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems, Department of Electronic Materials Engineering, Research School of Physics, The Australian National UniversityCavendish Laboratory, University of CambridgeDepartment of Materials, University of OxfordAbstract Quantum sensing based on solid-state spin defects provides a uniquely versatile platform for nanoscale magnetometry under diverse environmental conditions. Operation of most sensors used to-date is based on projective measurement along a single axis combined with computational extrapolation. Here, we show that an individually addressable carbon-related spin defect in hexagonal boron nitride is a multi-axis nanoscale sensor with large dynamic range. For this spin-1 system, we demonstrate how its spin-dependent photodynamics give rise to three optically detected spin resonances that show up to 90% contrast and are not quenched under off-axis magnetic field exceeding 100 mT, enabling $$\mu \,{{\rm{T}}}/{{{\rm{Hz}}}^{-1/2}}$$ μ T / Hz − 1 / 2 sensitivity. Finally, we show how this system can be used to unambiguously determine the three components of a target magnetic field via the use of two bias fields. Alongside these features, the room-temperature operation and the nanometer-scale proximity enabled by the van der Waals host material further consolidate this system as a promising quantum sensing platform.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59642-0
spellingShingle Carmem M. Gilardoni
Simone Eizagirre Barker
Catherine L. Curtin
Stephanie A. Fraser
Oliver. F. J. Powell
Dillon K. Lewis
Xiaoxi Deng
Andrew J. Ramsay
Sonachand Adhikari
Chi Li
Igor Aharonovich
Hark Hoe Tan
Mete Atatüre
Hannah L. Stern
A single spin in hexagonal boron nitride for vectorial quantum magnetometry
Nature Communications
title A single spin in hexagonal boron nitride for vectorial quantum magnetometry
title_full A single spin in hexagonal boron nitride for vectorial quantum magnetometry
title_fullStr A single spin in hexagonal boron nitride for vectorial quantum magnetometry
title_full_unstemmed A single spin in hexagonal boron nitride for vectorial quantum magnetometry
title_short A single spin in hexagonal boron nitride for vectorial quantum magnetometry
title_sort single spin in hexagonal boron nitride for vectorial quantum magnetometry
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59642-0
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