High-dynamic-range imaging of nanoscale magnetic fields using optimal control of a single qubit.

ABSTRACT

We present a novel spectroscopy protocol based on optimal control of a single quantum system. It enables measurements with quantum-limited sensitivity (η(ω)[proportionality](1/√[T(2)(*)]), T(2)(*) denoting the system's coherence time) but has an orders of magnitude larger dynamic range than pulsed spectroscopy methods previously employed for this task. We employ this protocol to image nanoscale magnetic fields with a single scanning nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond. Here, our scheme enables quantitative imaging of a strongly inhomogeneous field in a single scan without closed-loop control, which has previously been necessary to achieve this goal.