Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defects in diamond crystals are playing an essential role in the development of new nanoscale sensing devices based on the quantum properties of NV defects. We are occupied with the following endeavours:
Principal Investigator
Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) spins in diamond, Quantum sensing, Atomic force microscopy, Nano-spin-mechanical systems (NSMS), Nanomagnetism, Hybrid quantum sensors, Nanoscale scanning diamond probes, Magnetic resonance imaging, Biosensing, Quantum technology, Confocal microscopy, Laser interferometry
Postdoc [July 2013 - November 2017]
Institute for Quantum Optics, University of Ulm, Germany
Advisor: Prof. Fedor Jelezko
Research: Quantum Sensing, Diamond Magnetometry, Nano-spin-mechanical Systems (NSMS)
Section on Quantum Physics and Information Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen
Advisor: Prof. Ulrik Andersen
Research: Nanomechanics
Division of Physics and Applied Physics, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Research: Spin Centers in Silicon Carbide
PhD
[Department of Physics, University of Basel, Switzerland (April 2009 - June 2013)]
Thesis: Magnetic resonance force microscopy: Harnessing nuclear spin fluctuations.
Advisor: Prof. Martino Poggio
Research: Apart from making contributions to setting up of a low temperature high vacuum
magnetic resonance
force microscopy (MRFM) setup, I explored a novel approach using MRFM to harness the naturally occurring
random
fluctuations in nanoscale ensembles of nuclear spins.
MSc
[Micro and Nanosystems, ETH Zurich, Switzerland (October, 2006 - January, 2009)]
Thesis: Efficient coupling to photonic crystal cavities.
Advisor: Prof. Atac Imamoglu
Courses Credited:
Quantum Mechanics for Nanosystems, Advanced Optoelectronics, Quantum Optics, Quantum Systems for
Information Technology,
Magnetism: from the Atom to the Solid State, Advanced Solid State Physics, Statistical Physics,
Semiconductor Nanostructures,
Quantum Optics and Semiconductor Quantum Dots
Course Projects:
MATLAB simulations for gain calculations of quantum dot laser
BTech
[Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (September, 2001 - July, 2005)]
Courses Credited: (GPA - 8.56/10)
Physics - I, Physics Lab - I, Electrodynamics, Physics Lab - II, Quantum Mechanics for Engineers,
Semiconductor
Physics, Dynamical Systems, Laser Theory, Mathematical Physics, Superconductivity and its Applications
We develop nitrogen-vacancy (NV) spin-based diamond magnetometers capable of measuring the minute magnetic fields with high sensitivity and spatial resolution. Our aim is to utilize the diamond spins as scanning probes to spatially map the tiny magnetic fields on the nanoscale. This would allow us to obtain a greater understanding of the magnetic phenomena which are otherwise not discerned by global magnetization measurements due to spatial averaging.
We also apply NV centers as nanoscale probes of stress, temperature and electric fields. Standard NV-diamond sensing devices when combined with the strategy of hybridization offer a huge potential for improving their sensitivity. Such hybrid quantum sensors may provide a novel approach for studying a broad range of physical processes on the nanoscale.
Phys. Rev. Applied - Accepted 17 July, 2026
Invited Book Chapter on Diamond Technology and Advances, Royal Society of Chemistry Books
Adv. Mater. Technologies, 2025 pdf
(Invited article in Quantum Vibes quarterly newsletter highlighting the developments happening across various quantum technologies in India) pdf
Quantum Sci. Technol., 2023, 8, 025011 pdf
ACS Photonics, 2017, 4(5), 1054-1059
Nano Lett. (2017), 17 (3), 1496-1503
Appl. Phys. Lett.105, 043112 (2014)
Nature Physics 9, 631-635 (2013)
Appl. Phys. Lett. 101, 133104 (2012)
Phys. Rev. B 84, 205328 (2011)
Appl. Phys. Lett. 98, 163103 (2011)
| August - November | January - April |
|---|---|
Dr. Phani Kumar P.
Associate Professor
Department of Physics
IISER Bhopal
Office:
Room No. 3, Academic Building - I
Bhauri, Bhopal - 462066
Phone: +91 755 269 1241
Email: phani@iiserb.ac.in