Wide-field magnetometry with nitrogen-vacancy centers in randomly oriented micro-diamonds

Magnetometry with nitrogen-vacancy color centers in diamond has gained significant interest among researchers in recent years. Absolute knowledge of the three-dimensional orientation of the magnetic field is necessary for many applications. Conventional magnetometry measurements are usually performed with NV ensembles in a bulk diamond with a thin NV layer or a scanning probe in the form of a diamond tip, which requires a smooth sample surface and proximity of the probing device, often limiting the sensing capabilities. Here, we present a method for determining the three-dimensional orientation of the magnetic field vector relative to the diamond crystal lattice. We demonstrate that NV centers in arbitrarily oriented submicrometer-sized diamond powder deposited on a planar surface can be used for sensing the magnetic field. Our work can be extended to irregular surfaces, which shows a promising path for nanodiamond-based photonic sensors.