Probing nanoscale magnetic phenomena with cryogenic scanning quantum magnetometry

Emerging technologies increasingly rely on precise control and understanding of magnetic phenomena at the nanoscale and cryogenic temperatures. NV magnetometry offers a unique approach, combining quantum sensing with scanning probe precision to achieve magnetic field mapping at resolutions and sensitivities beyond conventional limits. We present cw-ODMR imaging of materials hosting emergent quantum and topological magnetic phenomena, including Abrikosov vortices in BSCCO and YBCO, interlayer domain textures in twisted bilayer CrSBr, magnetic domains in skyrmions hosting Ir/Fe/Co/Pt multilayers, and meronic spin textures in synthetic antiferromagnets.  

 

The imaging was performed by the cryogenic scanning NV magnetometer integrated into a closed-cycle cryostat with turnkey operation from 2–300 K without any special sample preparation. The system achieves ≤3 µT/√Hz sensitivity with automated ODMR, low-noise AFM control, and remote operation for quantitative stray-field mapping [1]. These experimental demonstrations underscore the versatility of cryogenic NV magnetometry in quantitatively resolving nanoscale magnetic textures, establishing a highly sensitive, turnkey quantum sensing tool in a fully commercial system for probing superconductivity, correlated magnetism, and emergent spin textures in quantum materials.