Magnetic Sensing Using Optically-Active Solid-State Spins

In recent years, quantum systems have emerged as powerful platforms for developing future technologies, offering immense potential in fields such as computing, communication, and sensing. This talk will focus on a specific class of promising quantum systems, optically-active spins in the solid-state including color centers in wide bandgap materials and self-assembled quantum dots in direct bandgap semiconductors. I will first describe the fundamental quantum properties of optically-active solid-state spins, the methods for controlling their quantum states, and the techniques for prolonging their coherence times. Then, I will show how optically-active solid-state spins can be used to measure DC magnetic fields, decompose the spectral properties of AC magnetic fields, and perform 3D magnetic imaging of biological and geological specimens. I will finish by introducing some ideas for improving the resources required for sensing sparse magnetic signals using optically-active solid-state spins, and for generating highly entangled spin stated that may enable magnetic sensing beyond the shot-noise limit.