High-Resolution NV-Diamond Wide-Field Magnetic Imaging

Ensembles of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond allow the detection of weak magnetic fields under ambient conditions, with wide-ranging applications in the physical and life sciences. The proposed SBIR project will transition to commercial readiness the high-sensitivity and high-resolution NV-diamond magnetic field imaging devices previously demonstrated in a university laboratory setting. We will develop a prototype diamond magnetic field imager that is broadly applicable to a wide range of magnetic systems, including solids with magnetic microstructure and biological samples in liquid. The prototype goal is a robust-packaged imager with sub-micron magnetic field resolution over a field of view area of 1000 um^2, with DC field sensitivity below 100 uT/sqrt(Hz) over 1 um^2. This instrument will stand apart from other magnetic imaging techniques for its combination of rapid imaging, high resolution, and high sensitivity at low cost, and will complement or replace other technologies for government, military, university, and industry users.