QUANTUM SCANNING MICROSCOPE

Faster. Versatile. Easy to use.

Why wait for great data? Or be limited by your microscope in what you can do?

Meet the QSM: our turn-key Quantum Scanning NV Microscope. The QSM unites user-friendliness with flexibility and high performance. From quick large area scans to high resolution, high sensitivity maps, the QSM is the right tool for the job. With an optimized design for NV imaging, it can take megapixel ODMR images in as little as a few hours and scan using arbitrary, user-defined pulse sequences, even with multiple laser colors. The QSM achieves a wide measurement range combining options for vector magnetic field control beyond 100 mT with an operating MW frequency range exceeding 5 GHz. All of that comes with a fully integrated, intuitive and powerful software interface.

Are you interested? Read our QSM brochure

QSM Brochure

At a glance

Optical system that maximizes NV signal.
Hard- and software tuned for highest SNR to operate at the shot noise limit.
Full B pixel rates at up to 200 Hz.
Microwave bandwith covering >5GHz range.
Scanning pulsed ODMR, Rabi, Ramsey, Relaxometry and user-defined pulse sequences.
Vector magnets for arbitrary bias fields: high field permanent magnet or fast electromagnet options.
Integrated Magneto-optical Kerr Effect (MOKE) measurement setup.
Low-drift, high performance AFM and temperature stabilized housing.

Optimized Optics

A custom optical design allows for a significant boost in the optical performance and therefore collection efficiency. Each element in the QSM is optimized for transparency in the NV band, even the objective.

Turnkey System

Usability and customer experience are the motives behind the QSM software and hardware. We design our solutions inspired by the needs of our customers.

Dual Imaging

An additional side view imaging system allows precise positioning of the antenna and tracking of the AFM approach routine while keeping an overview on the sample area.

RF and DC Access

Sample holders with custom designed electrical connections enable flexible control using DC and RF signals, from current pulses for domain wall motion to microwave excitation for ferromagnetic resonance.

Stabilized Housing

The QSM enclosure enhances temperature stability (<0.1°C variation) to minimize sample drift and ensure reliable data. A built-in Cu-Ni mesh provides full EMI shielding.

QS³ Software

QS3 software is designed around customer needs, combining functionality, speed, and usability. It accelerates your entry into magnetic and current imaging, seamlessly integrating all QSM components—from AFM to magnetometer and MOKE—into one turnkey solution.

Arbitrary Protocols

The QSM offers a plethora of built-in measurement protocols. If we didn’t get you covered, you can always script your own measurements using our scripting interface.

Details & Options

System description

The QSM is a turnkey scanning NV microscope designed to unite user-friendliness with high performance.

From large megapixel images to high resolution, high sensitivity maps, the QSM is the right tool for the job. Delivering performance close to the shot noise limit, its flexible platform makes it a versatile tool for studying magnetic phenomena at the nanometer scale, from stray fields and vortices over domain boundaries to current densities.

Sensitivity (read How it works)

<1.5 μT/√Hz in DC, cw-ODMR

Scanner range

85 μm × 85 μm × 15 μm

Coarse stage range

6 mm × 6 mm

Sample size

>30 mm circle, >10 mm thick

Microwave frequency range

0.5 GHz – 6 GHz (more on request)

Vector magnetic bias field

>80 mT (more on request)

Objective field of view

150 μm

Laser

515 nm

Learn how our Quantum Scanning Tips allow us to achieve such high sensitivity.

QuickODMR

Measure faster with QuickODMR! A unique algorithm decrease software overhead close to zero. ODMR at pixel rates up to 200 Hz means 100 x 100 pixel scans in less than one minute and megapixel scans in less than 2 hours instead of weeks. Combine this with our high quality tips and optimized optics to go as fast as your sample permits. QuickODMR measures the full frequency spectra at each pixel collecting the same information as conventional cw-ODMR.

Do you have a sample with highly varying field? QuickODMR can also frequency track, keeping a small frequency window dynamically centered on the ODMR resonance. The small window preserves the sensitivity, which would be otherwise lost with the large frequency window necessary without tracking. This way you can keep your scan quick even on your most challenging samples!

Hematite (α-Fe₂O₃)

A model antiferromagnet.

GdFeCo

Domain wall on a GdFeCo sample identified with QuickODMR.

Co₄₀Fe₄₀B₂₀

Weak stripe magnetic textures exhibiting short range ordering and longer range magnetism revealed by a large area 20x20µm QuickODMR with the QSM.

Bismuth Iron Oxide (BFO)

Multiferroics and spin cycloids imaging

Look at some other cool measurements we have done.

NV Image Library

High Resolution Mode

Sharper Images: our new high resolution mode decreases the NV to sample distance and makes it more reproducible. If you are investigating weak signals and feature sizes below 50 nm, this mode will benefit you.

Several modes for measuring at a constant height above the sample are also available. Choose one of these for strongly magnetic samples that reduce contrast and countrate of the NV.

High Sensitivity Mode (Gradiometry)

Better magnetic field sensitivity: The new high sensitivity mode (Gradiometry) enables even better DC magnetic field sensitivity allowing you to measure weak magnetic signals.

Time-domain option

NVs can sense so much more than just DC magnetic fields. The time-domain option extends the hardware and the software of the QSM, significantly improving its capabilities. With this option, a variety of pulse protocols become available including and not limited to Rabi, Relaxation/T1, Ramsey, XY, gradiometry and many more. Each of them has its own widget and can be used for scanning measurements. In addition, pulse protocols can be "stacked" at each pixel during a scan allowing multi-modal imaging. Using a dedicate pulse scripting interface in the QS3 software, the user can also write a custom pulse experiment to use during a scan.

The Quickscan protocol is also empowered by the time-domain option, allowing to increase measurement speed in scanning ODMR up to measurement rates of 200 pixels/s.

Movable permanent magnet

A three axis stage with several centimeters of range in all directions allows the user to move a permanent magnet below the sample in close proximity with the diamond tip. Magnetic bias fields up to several hundreds of millitesla can be achieved. Different magnet arrangements are available and interchangable allowing for both in-plane or out-of-plane fields up to 500 mT.

The QS3 software includes automated alignment routines that make it easy to calibrate the trajectory of the magnet in space to keep the magnetic field aligned with the NV axis. In this way the user specifies field values in mT rather than stage positions.

If you want to bias your sample very strongly, the permanent magnet may be your preferred option.

Vector electromagnet

The low noise, temperature stabilized design offers >80 mT in arbitrary directions. Peak fields along specific direction extends to field strangths >200 mT.

The vector magnet enables easy field sweeps and ramps for magnetizing samples, as well as optimization algorithms for maximum NV performance. The option to quickly vary the field orientation allows the user to think out-of-the-box and design experiments where the field is re-oriented every pixel dynamically during a scan.

If your research involves a high degree of flexibility in tuning the magnetic field, the vector magnet is probably the better choice to make.

How to order

The core system is composed of the following parts:

Scanning atomic force microscope and controller.
AFM head with manual 3D stage for microwave excitation for NV scanning probes.
Optics head including NV excitation and detection channels, MOKE microscope and dual widefield imaging.
Quantum control console including optical and microwave excitation and detection.
QS3 quantum control software package with an intuitive user interface.
Temperature stabilized, acoustically and vibrationally decoupled housing.
Hand movable permanent magnet to bias sample and NV.

You can customize the system with additional options:

Vector electromagnet for fast field sweeps.
Motorized permanent magnet option for biasing the NV and/or sample.
Time-domain option with AWG for full control over the microwave field. Enables pulsed measurements and QuickScan.
Heated sample holder up to 100°C. Larger range as well as cooling options available on request.
Custom designed ceramic sample PCBs for DC and/or RF access.
Contact us for features such as multiple microwave or laser sources, additional optical beam paths, rotating sample holder or inert atmosphere housings.