Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond: Nanoscale Sensors for Physics and Biology

Crystal defects in diamond have emerged as unique objects for a variety of applications, both because they are very stable and because they have interesting optical properties. Embedded in nanocrystals, they can serve, for example, as robust single-photon sources or as fluorescent biomarkers of unlimited photostability and low cytotoxicity. The most fascinating aspect, however, is the ability of some crystal defects, most prominently the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center, to locally detect and measure a number of physical quantities, such as magnetic and electric fields. This metrology capacity is based on the quantum mechanical interactions of the defect's spin state. In this review, we introduce the new and…

• SN
  Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
• ET
  Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich
• DA
  Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
• NC
  National Center of Competence in Research Quantum Science and Technology