Magnetic imaging under high pressure with a spin-based quantum sensor integrated in a van der Waals heterostructure

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Quantum Sensing

Background:

• Van der Waals magnets possess tunable magnetic properties influenced by pressure due to weak interlayer bonding.
• Local magnetometry under high pressure is challenging for these emerging materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate high-resolution, local magnetic imaging of van der Waals magnets under applied pressure.
• To investigate pressure-dependent magnetization in 1T-CrTe2.
• To establish a new platform for studying pressure-induced phenomena in quantum materials.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 2D quantum sensing platform based on boron-vacancy (VB-) centers in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN).
• Performed magnetic imaging with sub-micron spatial resolution under pressures up to several GPa.
• Analyzed the performance of VB- centers in hBN for high-pressure magnetic sensing.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated magnetic imaging of a van der Waals magnet under high pressure.
• Investigated the pressure-dependent magnetization of micrometer-sized 1T-CrTe2 flakes.
• Validated the capability of the VB- center platform for pressure-dependent studies.

Conclusions:

• The developed 2D quantum sensing platform provides a novel method for studying pressure effects in van der Waals magnets.
• This technique opens avenues for exploring pressure-induced phase transitions and the physics of 2D superconductors under pressure.