Electron-to-nuclear spectral mapping via dynamic nuclear polarization
Abstract
We report on a strategy to indirectly read out the spectrum of an electronic spin via polarization transfer to nuclear spins in its local environment. The nuclear spins are far more abundant and have longer lifetimes, allowing for repeated polarization accumulation in them. Subsequent nuclear interrogation can reveal information about the electronic spectral density of states. We experimentally demonstrate the method by reading out the ESR spectrum of nitrogen vacancy center electrons in diamond via readout of lattice 13C nuclei. Spin-lock control on the 13C nuclei yields a significantly enhanced signal-to-noise ratio for the nuclear readout. Spectrally mapped readout presents operational advantages in being background-free and immune to crystal orientation and optical scattering. We harness these advantages to demonstrate applications in underwater magnetometry. The physical basis for the “one-to-many” spectral map is itself intriguing. To uncover its origin, we develop a theoretical model that maps the system dynamics, involving traversal of a cascaded structure of Landau–Zener anti-crossings, to the operation of a tilted “Galton board.” This work points to new opportunities for “ESR-via-NMR” in dilute electronic systems and in hybrid electron–nuclear quantum memories and sensors.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Oct 16, 2023
- Source ID
- 10.1063/5.0157954
Entities
People
- Arjun Pillai
- Ashok Ajoy
- Moniish Elanchezhian
- Sophie Conti
- Teemu Virtanen
Organizations
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Office of Naval Research
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry