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Tang H, Wang G, Cappellaro P, Li J. μeV-Deep Neutron Bound States in Nanocrystals. ACS NANO 2024; 18:9063-9070. [PMID: 38489522 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c12929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The strong nuclear force gives rise to the widely studied neutron scattering states and MeV-energy nuclear bound states. Whether this same interaction could lead to low-energy bound states for a neutron in the nuclear force field of a cluster of nuclei is an open question. Here, we computationally demonstrate the existence of μeV-level neutronic bound states originating from the strong interactions in nanocrystals with a spatial extent of tens of nanometers. These negative-energy neutron wave functions depend on the size, dimension, and nuclear spin polarization of the nanoparticles, providing engineering degrees of freedom for the artificial neutronic "molecule".
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Tang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Guoqing Wang
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Paola Cappellaro
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Ju Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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2
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Rizzato R, Schalk M, Mohr S, Hermann JC, Leibold JP, Bruckmaier F, Salvitti G, Qian C, Ji P, Astakhov GV, Kentsch U, Helm M, Stier AV, Finley JJ, Bucher DB. Extending the coherence of spin defects in hBN enables advanced qubit control and quantum sensing. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5089. [PMID: 37607945 PMCID: PMC10444786 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40473-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Negatively-charged boron vacancy centers ([Formula: see text]) in hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN) are attracting increasing interest since they represent optically-addressable qubits in a van der Waals material. In particular, these spin defects have shown promise as sensors for temperature, pressure, and static magnetic fields. However, their short spin coherence time limits their scope for quantum technology. Here, we apply dynamical decoupling techniques to suppress magnetic noise and extend the spin coherence time by two orders of magnitude, approaching the fundamental T1 relaxation limit. Based on this improvement, we demonstrate advanced spin control and a set of quantum sensing protocols to detect radiofrequency signals with sub-Hz resolution. The corresponding sensitivity is benchmarked against that of state-of-the-art NV-diamond quantum sensors. This work lays the foundation for nanoscale sensing using spin defects in an exfoliable material and opens a promising path to quantum sensors and quantum networks integrated into ultra-thin structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Rizzato
- Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstraße 4, Garching bei München, 85748, Germany.
- University of Bari, Department of Physics "M. Merlin", Via Amendola 173, Bari, 70125, Italy.
| | - Martin Schalk
- Walter Schottky Institute, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Am Coulombwall 4, Garching bei München, 85748, Germany
- Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), Schellingstr. 4, München, D-80799, Germany
| | - Stephan Mohr
- Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstraße 4, Garching bei München, 85748, Germany
| | - Jens C Hermann
- Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstraße 4, Garching bei München, 85748, Germany
- Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), Schellingstr. 4, München, D-80799, Germany
| | - Joachim P Leibold
- Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstraße 4, Garching bei München, 85748, Germany
- Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Physics, James-Franck-Str. 1, Garching bei München, 85748, Germany
| | - Fleming Bruckmaier
- Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstraße 4, Garching bei München, 85748, Germany
| | - Giovanna Salvitti
- Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstraße 4, Garching bei München, 85748, Germany
- University of Bologna, Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician", Via Selmi, 2, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Chenjiang Qian
- Walter Schottky Institute, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Am Coulombwall 4, Garching bei München, 85748, Germany
| | - Peirui Ji
- Walter Schottky Institute, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Am Coulombwall 4, Garching bei München, 85748, Germany
| | - Georgy V Astakhov
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, Dresden, 01328, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kentsch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, Dresden, 01328, Germany
| | - Manfred Helm
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, Dresden, 01328, Germany
- TU Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas V Stier
- Walter Schottky Institute, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Am Coulombwall 4, Garching bei München, 85748, Germany
- Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), Schellingstr. 4, München, D-80799, Germany
| | - Jonathan J Finley
- Walter Schottky Institute, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Am Coulombwall 4, Garching bei München, 85748, Germany
- Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), Schellingstr. 4, München, D-80799, Germany
| | - Dominik B Bucher
- Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstraße 4, Garching bei München, 85748, Germany.
- Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), Schellingstr. 4, München, D-80799, Germany.
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Gao Y, Luo Z, Guo H, Wen H, Li Z, Ma Z, Tang J, Liu J. Robustness improvement of a nitrogen-vacancy magnetometer by a double driving method. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2023; 94:065015. [PMID: 37862530 DOI: 10.1063/5.0147094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
The nitrogen vacancy (NV) color center in diamonds is an electron spin that can measure magnetic fields with high sensitivity and resolution. Furthermore, the robustness of an NV-based quantum system should be improved for further application in other sensing methods and in the exploration of basic physics. In this work, the robustness of an NV magnetometer is improved by the double driving method. The sensitivity of the NV magnetometer was improved 2.1 times by strengthening the pumping power from 100 to 600 mW. In this process, thermal drift was introduced, which affects the measurement accuracy. The temperature drift of a diamond matrix was measured using an infrared camera, and the temperature change of a diamond host drifted to ∼80 K under high laser and microwave power. To address the drift of temperature owing to sensitivity improvement by pumping enhancement, the double driving method was introduced, to suppress the drift of the resonance frequency, to improve the robustness of a continuous-wave NV magnetometer. The magnetic noise density was improved from 10 to 1.2 nT/Hz1/2. This study checked the source of temperature noise in the process of measuring with the NV color centers and proposes a double driving measurement method to track the resonant frequency change due to environmental temperature drift and improve sensitivity. The findings of this study are useful in applying complex pulse protocols in high-level sensing applications based on solid-state spin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Dynamic Measurement Technology, Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Quantum Sensing and Precision Measurement, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Zhengjie Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Dynamic Measurement Technology, Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Quantum Sensing and Precision Measurement, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Hao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Dynamic Measurement Technology, Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Quantum Sensing and Precision Measurement, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Huanfei Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Dynamic Measurement Technology, Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Quantum Sensing and Precision Measurement, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Zhonghao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Dynamic Measurement Technology, Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Quantum Sensing and Precision Measurement, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Zongmin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Dynamic Measurement Technology, Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Quantum Sensing and Precision Measurement, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Jun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Dynamic Measurement Technology, Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Quantum Sensing and Precision Measurement, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Jun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Dynamic Measurement Technology, Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Quantum Sensing and Precision Measurement, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
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Janitz E, Herb K, Völker LA, Huxter WS, Degen CL, Abendroth JM. Diamond surface engineering for molecular sensing with nitrogen-vacancy centers. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY. C 2022; 10:13533-13569. [PMID: 36324301 PMCID: PMC9521415 DOI: 10.1039/d2tc01258h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Quantum sensing using optically addressable atomic-scale defects, such as the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond, provides new opportunities for sensitive and highly localized characterization of chemical functionality. Notably, near-surface defects facilitate detection of the minute magnetic fields generated by nuclear or electron spins outside of the diamond crystal, such as those in chemisorbed and physisorbed molecules. However, the promise of NV centers is hindered by a severe degradation of critical sensor properties, namely charge stability and spin coherence, near surfaces (< ca. 10 nm deep). Moreover, applications in the chemical sciences require methods for covalent bonding of target molecules to diamond with robust control over density, orientation, and binding configuration. This forward-looking Review provides a survey of the rapidly converging fields of diamond surface science and NV-center physics, highlighting their combined potential for quantum sensing of molecules. We outline the diamond surface properties that are advantageous for NV-sensing applications, and discuss strategies to mitigate deleterious effects while simultaneously providing avenues for chemical attachment. Finally, we present an outlook on emerging applications in which the unprecedented sensitivity and spatial resolution of NV-based sensing could provide unique insight into chemically functionalized surfaces at the single-molecule level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Janitz
- Department of Physics, ETH Zürich Otto-Stern-Weg 1 8093 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Konstantin Herb
- Department of Physics, ETH Zürich Otto-Stern-Weg 1 8093 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Laura A Völker
- Department of Physics, ETH Zürich Otto-Stern-Weg 1 8093 Zürich Switzerland
| | - William S Huxter
- Department of Physics, ETH Zürich Otto-Stern-Weg 1 8093 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Christian L Degen
- Department of Physics, ETH Zürich Otto-Stern-Weg 1 8093 Zürich Switzerland
| | - John M Abendroth
- Department of Physics, ETH Zürich Otto-Stern-Weg 1 8093 Zürich Switzerland
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5
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Wang G, Li C, Cappellaro P. Observation of Symmetry-Protected Selection Rules in Periodically Driven Quantum Systems. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 127:140604. [PMID: 34652183 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.127.140604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Periodically driven (Floquet) quantum systems have recently been a focus of nonequilibrium physics by virtue of their rich dynamics. Time-periodic systems not only exhibit symmetries that resemble those in spatially periodic systems, but also display novel behavior that arises from symmetry breaking. Characterization of such dynamical symmetries is crucial, but often challenging due to limited driving strength and lack of an experimentally accessible characterization technique. Here, we show how to reveal dynamical symmetries, namely, parity, rotation, and particle-hole symmetries, by observing symmetry-induced Floquet selection rules. Notably, we exploit modulated driving to reach the strong light-matter coupling regime, and we introduce a protocol to experimentally extract the transition matrix elements between Floquet states from the system coherent evolution. By using nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond as an experimental test bed, we execute our protocol to observe symmetry-protected dark states and dark bands, and coherent destruction of tunneling. Our work shows how one can exploit the quantum control toolkit to study dynamical symmetries that arise in the topological phases of strongly driven Floquet systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqing Wang
- Research Laboratory of Electronics and Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Changhao Li
- Research Laboratory of Electronics and Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Paola Cappellaro
- Research Laboratory of Electronics and Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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