We demonstrate a spin-based, all-dielectric electrometer based on an ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy (NV−) defects in diamond. An applied electric field causes energy level shifts symmetrically away from the NV−'s degenerate triplet states via the Stark effect; this symmetry provides immunity to temperature fluctuations allowing for shot-noise-limited detection. Using an ensemble of NV−s, we demonstrate shot-noise limited sensitivities approaching 1 V/cm/Hz under ambient conditions, at low frequencies (<10 Hz), and over a large dynamic range (20 dB). A theoretical model for the ensemble of NV−s fits well with measurements of the ground-state electric susceptibility parameter, ⟨k⊥⟩. Implications of spin-based, dielectric sensors for micron-scale electric-field sensing are discussed.
@article{arxiv.1703.07517,
title = {High-sensitivity, spin-based electrometry with an ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond},
author = {Edward H. Chen and Hannah A. Clevenson and Kerry A. Johnson and Linh M. Pham and Dirk R. Englund and Philip R. Hemmer and Danielle A. Braje},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1703.07517},
year = {2017}
}