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Preserving electron spin coherence in solids by optimal dynamical decoupling

Nature volume 461, pages 1265–1268 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

To exploit the quantum coherence of electron spins in solids in future technologies such as quantum computing1,2, it is first vital to overcome the problem of spin decoherence due to their coupling to the noisy environment. Dynamical decoupling3,4,5,6,7,8,9, which uses stroboscopic spin flips to give an average coupling to the environment that is effectively zero, is a particularly promising strategy for combating decoherence because it can be naturally integrated with other desired functionalities, such as quantum gates. Errors are inevitably introduced in each spin flip, so it is desirable to minimize the number of control pulses used to realize dynamical decoupling having a given level of precision. Such optimal dynamical decoupling sequences have recently been explored9,10,11,12. The experimental realization of optimal dynamical decoupling in solid-state systems, however, remains elusive. Here we use pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance to demonstrate experimentally optimal dynamical decoupling for preserving electron spin coherence in irradiated malonic acid crystals at temperatures from 50 K to room temperature. Using a seven-pulse optimal dynamical decoupling sequence, we prolonged the spin coherence time to about 30 μs; it would otherwise be about 0.04 μs without control or 6.2 μs under one-pulse control. By comparing experiments with microscopic theories, we have identified the relevant electron spin decoherence mechanisms in the solid. Optimal dynamical decoupling may be applied to other solid-state systems, such as diamonds with nitrogen-vacancy centres13,14,15, and so lay the foundation for quantum coherence control of spins in solids at room temperature.

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Figure 1: System and methods for the dynamical decoupling experiments.
Figure 2: Electron spin decoherence under UDD and PDD control.
Figure 3: Effects of various decoherence mechanisms in malonic acid crystals.

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Acknowledgements

J.D. thanks J. F. Chen for discussions on sample preparation. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Education of PRC, the National Fundamental Research Program 2007CB925200, and Hong Kong GRF Projects CUHK401906 and CUHK402209.

Author Contributions J.D. conceived and designed the experiment; J.D., X.R. and Y.W. performed the EPR measurements; J.D. and J.Y. prepared the samples; R.B.L. and N.Z. formulated the theory; N.Z. performed the calculations; J.D. and R.B.L. analysed the experimental and theoretical data; and R.B.L. wrote the paper. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale and Department of Modern Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China,

    Jiangfeng Du, Xing Rong, Ya Wang & Jiahui Yang

  2. Department of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China,

    Nan Zhao & R. B. Liu

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  1. Jiangfeng Du
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  2. Xing Rong
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jiangfeng Du or R. B. Liu.

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This file contains Supplementary Methods, Supplementary Figures S1-S6 with Legends, Supplementary Data, Supplementary Table S1 and Supplementary References. (PDF 497 kb)

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Du, J., Rong, X., Zhao, N. et al. Preserving electron spin coherence in solids by optimal dynamical decoupling. Nature 461, 1265–1268 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08470

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