Wide-Field Magnetic Imaging of Hydride Superconductors at Pressures Exceeding 1.6 Megabar Using Quantum Sensors

The discovery of superconducting transition temperatures (T_c) above 200 K in pressurized hydrides has sparked new hope for realizing ambient-condition superconductivity. While electrical resistance measurements have provided significant evidence for superconductivity in various hydrides, magnetic evidence remains limited due to the extreme conditions required for these studies, with traditional methods often compromised by background noise. Using a diamond anvil cell implanted with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers, we characterize LaH₁₀, a superconductor with the highest reported T_c, at pressures exceeding 1.6 Mbar. Alongside electrical transport measurements, we image Meissner suppression, flux trapping, and other superconducting phenomena, providing spatially resolved insights that reveal how the local superconducting properties evolve with pressure and temperature. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of widefield imaging under extreme conditions, opening new possibilities for resolving long-standing questions in hydride superconductivity and guiding future synthesis efforts.