Magnetic spin imaging under ambient conditions with sub-cellular resolution

S. Steinert (), F. Ziem, L. T. Hall, A. Zappe, M. Schweikert, N. Götz, A. Aird, G. Balasubramanian, L. Hollenberg and J. Wrachtrup
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S. Steinert: 3rd Institute of Physics and Research Center SCOPE, University Stuttgart
F. Ziem: 3rd Institute of Physics and Research Center SCOPE, University Stuttgart
L. T. Hall: Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, School of Physics, University of Melbourne
A. Zappe: 3rd Institute of Physics and Research Center SCOPE, University Stuttgart
M. Schweikert: Biologisches Institut, University Stuttgart
N. Götz: 3rd Institute of Physics and Research Center SCOPE, University Stuttgart
A. Aird: 3rd Institute of Physics and Research Center SCOPE, University Stuttgart
G. Balasubramanian: Research Group Nanoscale Spin Imaging, Max-Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry and Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB)
L. Hollenberg: Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, School of Physics, University of Melbourne
J. Wrachtrup: 3rd Institute of Physics and Research Center SCOPE, University Stuttgart

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract The detection of small numbers of magnetic spins is a significant challenge in the life, physical and chemical sciences, especially when room temperature operation is required. Here we show that a proximal nitrogen-vacancy spin ensemble serves as a high precision sensing and imaging array. Monitoring its longitudinal relaxation enables sensing of freely diffusing, unperturbed magnetic ions and molecules in a microfluidic device without applying external magnetic fields. Multiplexed charge-coupled device acquisition and an optimized detection scheme permits direct spin noise imaging of magnetically labelled cellular structures under ambient conditions. Within 20 s we achieve spatial resolutions below 500 nm and experimental sensitivities down to 1,000 statistically polarized spins, of which only 32 ions contribute to a net magnetization. The results mark a major step towards versatile sub-cellular magnetic imaging and real-time spin sensing under physiological conditions providing a minimally invasive tool to monitor ion channels or haemoglobin trafficking inside live cells.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2588

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