Quantum sensing of mesoscale electric couplings between point charges in diamond

Color centers in semiconductors are being actively explored as a platform for quantum information science and nanoscale sensing but most attention thus far has been centered on the spin and optical degrees of freedom. Using the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond as a paradigm, this presentation will survey recent results showcasing instead the use of electric interactions in the form of direct Coulombic couplings with proximal traps or photogenerated carriers. Specifically, we will discuss how to leverage statistical correlations in the spectral fluctuations of optical transitions in sub-diffraction NV clusters to pinpoint the relative three-dimensional positions of interacting NVs as well as the location and charge sign of surrounding traps. We will also describe the use of single-shot charge readout to monitor single events of hole capture in negatively charged NVs, a process made possible through the formation of transient Rydberg states featuring radii approaching 1 µm. These results create opportunities for new sensing modalities of electric fields with increased sensitivity, and for establishing interactions between color centers over a spatial range exceeding that possible via magnetic couplings.