skip to main content


This content will become publicly available on June 29, 2024

Title: Quantum Sensing via Magnetic‐Noise‐Protected States in an Electronic Spin Dyad
Abstract

Extending the coherence lifetime of a qubit is central to the implementation and deployment of quantum technologies, particularly in the solid state where various noise sources intrinsic to the material host play a limiting role. This study examines theoretically the coherent spin dynamics of a hetero‐spin system formed by a spin featuring a non‐zero crystal field and in proximity to a paramagnetic center . An analysis of the energy level structure of the dyad shows this system exhibits apair of levels separated by a magnetic‐field‐insensitive energy gap, which can be exploited to create long‐lived zero‐quantum coherences. It is found that these coherences are selectively sensitive to “local”—as opposed to “global”—magnetic field fluctuations, suggesting these spin dyads can serve as a nanoscale gradiometer for precision magnetometry. On the other hand, the distinct response of either spin species to electric or thermal stimuli allows one to implement alternative sensing protocols for magnetic‐noise‐free electrometry and thermometry.

 
more » « less
Award ID(s):
2203904
NSF-PAR ID:
10441900
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Advanced Quantum Technologies
ISSN:
2511-9044
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract

    Detecting proximities between nuclei is crucial for atomic‐scale structure determination with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Different from spin‐1/2 nuclei, the methodology for quadrupolar nuclei is limited for solids due to the complex spin dynamics under simultaneous magic‐angle spinning (MAS) and radio‐frequency irradiation. Herein, the performances of several homonuclear rotary recoupling (HORROR)‐based homonuclear dipolar recoupling sequences are evaluated for27Al (spin‐5/2). It is shown numerically and experimentally on mesoporous alumina thatoutperforms the supercycled S3sequence and its pure double‐quantum (DQ) (bracketed) version, [S3], both in terms of DQ transfer efficiency and bandwidth. This result is surprising since the S3sequence is among the best low‐power recoupling schemes for spin‐1/2. The superiority ofis thoroughly explained, and the crucial role of radio‐frequency offsets during its spin dynamics is highlighted. The analytical approximation of, derived in an offset‐toggling frame, clarifies the interplay between offset and DQ efficiency, namely, the benefits of off‐resonance irradiation and the trough in DQ efficiency forwhen the irradiation is central between two resonances, both for spin‐1/2 and half‐integer‐spin quadrupolar nuclei. Additionally, density matrix propagations show that thesequence, applied to quadrupolar nuclei subject to quadrupolar interaction much larger than radio‐frequency frequency field, can create single‐ and multiple‐quantum coherences for near on‐resonance irradiation. This significantly perturbs the creation of DQ coherences between central transitions of neighboring quadrupolar nuclei. This effect explains the DQ efficiency trough for near on‐resonance irradiation, in the case of both cross‐correlation and autocorrelation peaks. Overall, this work aids experimental acquisition of homonuclear dipolar correlation spectra of half‐integer‐spin quadrupolar nuclei and provides theoretical insights towards improving recoupling schemes at high magnetic field and fast MAS.

     
    more » « less
  2. Abstract

    Singlet fission, a process that splits a singlet exciton into a biexciton, has promise in quantum information. We report time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance measurements on a conformationally well-defined acene dimer molecule, TIPS-BP1', designed to exhibit strongly state-selective relaxation to specific magnetic spin sublevels. The resulting optically pumped spin polarization is a nearly pure initial state from the ensemble. The long-lived spin coherences modulate the signal intrinsically, allowing a measurement scheme that substantially removes noise and uncertainty in the magnetic resonance spectra. A nonadiabatic transition theory with a minimal number of spectroscopic parameters allows the quantitative assignment and interpretation of the spectra. In this work, we show that the rigid dimer TIPS-BP1' supports persistent spin coherences at temperatures far higher than those used in conventional superconducting quantum hardware.

     
    more » « less
  3. Under certain conditions, a fermion in a superconductor can separate in space into two parts known as Majorana zero modes, which are immune to decoherence from local noise sources and are attractive building blocks for quantum computers. Promising experimental progress has been made to demonstrate Majorana zero modes in materials with strong spin–orbit coupling proximity coupled to superconductors. Here we report signatures of Majorana zero modes in a material platform utilizing the surface states of gold. Using scanning tunneling microscope to probe EuS islands grown on top of gold nanowires, we observe two well-separated zero-bias tunneling conductance peaks aligned along the direction of the applied magnetic field, as expected for a pair of Majorana zero modes. This platform has the advantage of having a robust energy scale and the possibility of realizing complex designs using lithographic methods.

     
    more » « less
  4. Under certain conditions, a fermion in a superconductor can separate in space into two parts known as Majorana zero modes which are immune to decoherence from local noise sources and are attractive building blocks for quantum computers. Promising experimental progress has been made to demonstrate Majorana zero modes in materials with strong spin–orbit coupling proximity coupled to superconductors. Here we report signatures of Majorana zero modes in a material platform utilizing the surface states of gold. Using scanning tunneling microscope to probe EuS islands grown on top of gold nanowires, we observe two well-separated zero-bias tunneling conductance peaks aligned along the direction of the applied magnetic field, as expected for a pair of Majorana zero modes. This platform has the advantage of having a robust energy scale and the possibility of realizing complex designs using lithographic methods. 
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    Understanding the interplay between the inherent disorder and the correlated fluctuating-spin ground state is a key element in the search for quantum spin liquids. H3LiIr2O6is considered to be a spin liquid that is proximate to the Kitaev-limit quantum spin liquid. Its ground state shows no magnetic order or spin freezing as expected for the spin liquid state. However, hydrogen zero-point motion and stacking faults are known to be present. The resulting bond disorder has been invoked to explain the existence of unexpected low-energy spin excitations, although data interpretation remains challenging. Here, we use resonant X-ray spectroscopies to map the collective excitations in H3LiIr2O6and characterize its magnetic state. In the low-temperature correlated state, we reveal a broad bandwidth of magnetic excitations. The central energy and the high-energy tail of the continuum are consistent with expectations for dominant ferromagnetic Kitaev interactions between dynamically fluctuating spins. Furthermore, the absence of a momentum dependence to these excitations are consistent with disorder-induced broken translational invariance. Our low-energy data and the energy and width of the crystal field excitations support an interpretation of H3LiIr2O6as a disordered topological spin liquid in close proximity to bond-disordered versions of the Kitaev quantum spin liquid.

     
    more » « less