Quantum magnetic resonance microscopy
Abstract
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is universally regarded as one of the most important tools in chemical and bio-medical research. However, sensitivity limitations typically restrict imaging resolution to length scales greater than 10 μ m. Here we bring quantum control to the detection of chemical systems to demonstrate high resolution electron spin imaging using the quantum properties of an array of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres in diamond. Our quantum magnetic resonance microscope selectively images electronic spin species by precisely tuning a magnetic field to bring the quantum probes into resonance with the external target spins. This provides diffraction limited spatial resolution of the target spin species over a field of view of ~50x50 μ m2. We demonstrate imaging and spectroscopy on aqueous Cu2+ ions over microscopic volumes (0.025 μ m3), with detection sensitivity at resonance of 104 spins/voxel, ~100 zeptomol (10-19 mol). The ability to image, perform spectroscopy and dynamically monitor spin-dependent redox reactions and transition metal biochemistry at these scales opens up a new realm of nanoscopic electron spin resonance and zepto-chemistry in the physical and life sciences.