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Sensing single remote nuclear spins

Nature Nanotechnology volume 7, pages 657–662 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

The detection of single nuclear spins would be useful for fields ranging from basic science to quantum information technology. However, although sensing based on diamond defects1,2 and other methods3 have shown high sensitivity1,2,3, they have not been capable of detecting single nuclear spins, and defect-based techniques further require strong defect–spin coupling4,5. Here, we present the detection and identification of single and remote 13C nuclear spins embedded in nuclear spin baths surrounding a single electron spin of a nitrogen-vacancy centre in diamond. We are able to amplify and detect the weak magnetic field noise (∼10 nT) from a single nuclear spin located ∼3 nm from the centre using dynamical decoupling control6,7,8,9,10, and achieve a detectable hyperfine coupling strength as weak as ∼300 Hz. We also confirm the quantum nature of the coupling, and measure the spin-defect distance and the vector components of the nuclear field. The technique marks a step towards imaging, detecting and controlling nuclear spins in single molecules.

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Figure 1: NV centre spin and 13C nuclear spin bath in diamond.
Figure 2: Coherence dips induced by 13C nuclear spins.
Figure 3: Quantum coupling with remote 13C nuclear spins.
Figure 4: Determination of hyperfine couplings of two nuclear spins coupled to the same NV centre.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank F. Reinhard and T. Staudacher for useful discussions. J.W. acknowledges financial support from the Forschergruppe 1493 and 1482, SFB/TR21, SQUTEC, SOLID and the Max Planck Gesellschaft. R.B.L. thanks Hong Kong Research Grants Council and The Chinese University of Hong Kong Focused Investments Scheme for funding. D.J.T. and M.M. acknowledge funding from the DARPA programme QuASAR.

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  1. Nan Zhao and Jan Honert: These authors contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 3 Physikalisches Institut and Research Center SCOPE, University Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, Stuttgart, 70569, Germany

    Nan Zhao, Jan Honert, Bernhard Schmid, Michael Klas, Helmut Fedder & Jörg Wrachtrup

  2. Graduate School of Library, Information and Media Studies, University of Tsukuba, 1-2 Kasuga, Tsukuba, 305-8550, Ibaraki, Japan

    Junichi Isoya

  3. Element Six Ltd, Ascot SL5 8BP, Berkshire, UK

    Matthew Markham & Daniel Twitchen

  4. Institut für Quantenoptik, Universität Ulm, Ulm, 89081, Germany

    Fedor Jelezko

  5. Department of Physics and Centre for Quantum Coherence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China

    Ren-Bao Liu

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  1. Nan Zhao
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Contributions

N.Z. and R.B.L. proposed the idea. H.F. and N.Z. coordinated the project. H.F., J.H., B.S., M.K., F.J. and N.Z. designed and performed the experiment. N.Z. did the theoretical analysis. J.I., M.M. and D.T. designed and carried out synthesis of the diamond. N.Z., H.F., J.W. and R.B.L. wrote the manuscript. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ren-Bao Liu or Helmut Fedder.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Zhao, N., Honert, J., Schmid, B. et al. Sensing single remote nuclear spins. Nature Nanotech 7, 657–662 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2012.152

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