A portable diamond-based quantum demonstrator based on a quantum control and readout platform*

In addition to being extremely sensitive quantum sensors, nitrogen vacancies (NV) centers in diamond are an ideal showcase of quantum technologies as they work in ambient conditions. Experiments with NV centers usually involve a bulky optical system, together with a wide assortment of signal generators and samplers, which is challenging to synchronize together. Here, we perform quantum control experiments on NV centers which are much more accessible to a broader community. We achieve this by (i) miniaturizing hardware components into a quantum magnetometer the size of Rubik’s cube and (ii) leveraging a commercial platform for control and readout. We interfaced all the quantum magnetometer’s signal generation and readout components with a modular control platform, thus allowing it to fully operate the quantum sensor. We will present room-temperature results including optically detected magnetic resonance, Rabi and Ramsey oscillations of an ensemble of NV centers. In addition to democratizing complex experiments in quantum physics, our work paves the way for efficient prototyping of quantum technologies with commercial control solutions.