Quantum Sensing and Quantum Manipulation at the Single Atom Limit
Abstract
Title: Quantum Sensing and Quantum Manipulation at the Single Atom LimitWe are currently creating a second quantum revolution to finally harness the power of quantum mechanics through which we may controllably alter the face of our physical world, by engineering and measuring quantum states of our own design. Spin is the most important quantum attribute comprising a central role in quantum information as the distinguished qubit. The history of spin manipulation dates back to the early 1940s, where the first nuclear magneticresonance (NMR) was performed by Purcells and Blochs groups at Harvard and Stanford, respectively, earning the pair the 1952 Nobel prize in Physics. In close analogy to NMR, the first electron spin resonance (ESR) was carried out by E. Zavoisky in 1945. Subsequent to these advances, spin resonance was recognized for its value, enabling unprecedented precision measurements and opening the field for many applications in physics, chemistry, biology, andmedicine. More recently, spin has emerged as a robust qubit for quantum information, because we have learned how to protect the quantum phase of a spin from external influences, such as electric charge and magnetic fluctuations. The quantum phase is a versatile tool for quantum sensing applications and responsible for the ballooning research interest in NV center systems. One central aspect of this ONR proposal concerns the realization of a comparable spin detector with the key benefit of providing atomic resolution and unique bottom-up manipulation capabilities.Magnetic resonance of spin systems conventionally works by absorption and emission of radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation and thus typically requires a large ensemble of nearly identical spins to work, although single atom/spin systems have been addressed in brute force applications. Recently in 2015 it was shown that ESR at the single atom level could be routinely accomplished with the scanning tunneling microscope, opening a new door to quantum spin measurement and manipulation with ESRSTM.In this proposal we describe how ESRSTM currently works, illustrate the presentlimitations, and our plans to turn ESRSTM into a universal quantum sensing tool for a wide range of applications in quantum nanoscience. In particular, we propose the development of a universal and scannable quantum sensor, and its application to quantum materials discovery.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 08, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142012352
Entities
People
- Garnett Bryant
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Maryland