Phosphorus doped quantum diamond for magnetometry

Advent Diamond proposes to develop new devices, materials and subsystems for space-based quantum magnetometry utilizing diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers. In this project, we leverage recent breakthroughs in chemical vapor deposition of doped diamond materials to develop NV centers embedded in doped diamond structures for space-based magnetometry. The designs we propose enable the preferred electrical read-out, for compact system integration. In this project, we will grow phosphorous-doped diamond using chemical vapor deposition and perform material quality measurements, and determine magnetometry designs that benefit from phosphorous doped diamond with NV centers.

Precise magnetic field measurements play a critical role in many NASA missions, and are used for planetary, magnetospheric, and interplanetary field mapping and characterization, helping scientists to understand planetary atmospheres, solar wind interactions, and climatic evolutions. Magnetometry can even be used for indirect detection of liquid water, or incorporated into robotic instruments to measure magnetic features of materials on planetary surfaces. This innovation will potentially bring higher sensitivity, more compact, and lower power magnetometers to spacecraft instrumentation and play a large role in future NASA missions. A comparison of magnetic measurement options is shown in the figure, as well as the potential for next-generation NV magnetometry instruments. There is a great deal of enthusiasm for potential niche and mass market applications of doped diamond-enabled quantum sensors including GPS backup, defense/industrial imaging, medical imaging, and RF sensors. Long term, the potential economic benefits of this project have the potential to be very great: this project represents a major advancement in doped diamond structures and the electrical readout of NV centers. Future quantum technologies can lead to next-generation telecommunications, computing, and security technologies. Indeed, semiconducting and quantum diamond technology, when fully developed, have the potential to touch nearly every sector of the US economy.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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