Hasselt University's Quantum Leap: All-Electrical Diamond Sensing Breakthrough
Researchers at Hasselt University have made a significant breakthrough in quantum sensing. They've developed a fully electrical method, PC-DEER, to read and manipulate atomic-scale defects in diamonds. This allows for unprecedented precision in detecting and controlling interactions between individual quantum bits and surrounding defects.
The Hahn-echo sequence, enhanced with a resonant pulse applied to the spin bath, enables selective probing of interactions between the NV center and its surrounding spins using electrical readout. The team successfully detected signatures of substitutional nitrogen (P1) and NVH centers with reproducible contrast using electrical signals, showcasing the sensitivity and resolution of the PC-DEER method.
The PC-DEER technique translates spin information into an electrical signal, simplifying device architecture and enhancing integration potential. The research identified five resonance groups attributed to P1 centers, defects within the diamond lattice, and detected signals consistent with NVH-related transitions. Scientists demonstrated coherent control over the spin bath, observing Rabi oscillations of P1 centers under electrical readout, proving individual bath spin transitions can be selectively driven and detected electrically. The observed splitting of the P1 resonance in an applied magnetic field provides valuable information about the local magnetic environment and the interaction strength between the P1 center and the NV center.
This breakthrough extends the capabilities of electrical readout beyond single spins, enabling detailed characterization of noise sources in diamond-based quantum technologies. The team, led by C. Grotz, J. Gieseler, P. Maletinsky, and L. Wrachtrup, has unlocked potential for all-electrical spin-based devices and quantum sensors, paving the way for advancements in quantum sensing and computing.
