T2-limited sensing of static magnetic fields via fast rotation of quantum spins

Diamond-based quantum magnetometers are more sensitive to oscillating (ac) magnetic fields than static (dc) fields because the crystal impurity-induced ensemble dephasing time T2∗, the relevant sensing time for a dc field, is much shorter than the spin coherence time T2, which determines the sensitivity to ac fields. Here we demonstrate measurement of dc magnetic fields using a physically rotating ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy centers at a precision ultimately limited by T2 rather than T2∗. The rotation period of the diamond is comparable to T2 and the angle between the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) axis and the target magnetic field changes as a function of time, thus upconverting the static magnetic field to an oscillating field in the physically rotating frame. Using spin-echo interferometry of the rotating NV centers, we are able to perform measurements for over 100 times longer compared to a conventional Ramsey experiment. With modifications our scheme could realize dc sensitivities equivalent to demonstrated NV center ac magnetic field sensitivities of order 0.1nTHz-1/2.