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We report the nanoscale spin detection and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of copper (Cu$^{2+}$) ions via double electron-electron resonance with single spins in diamond at room temperature and low magnetic fields. We measure unexpectedly narrow EPR resonances with linewidths $\sim 2-3$ MHz from copper-chloride molecules dissolved in poly-lysine. We also observe coherent Rabi oscillations and hyperfine splitting from single Cu$^{2+}$ ions, which could be used for dynamic nuclear spin polarization and higher sensitivity of spin detection. We interpret and analyze these observations using both spin hamiltonian modeling of the copper-chloride molecules and numerical simulations of the predicted DEER response, and obtain a sensing volume $\sim (250 \text{nm})^3$. This work will open the door for copper-labeled EPR measurements under ambient conditions in bio-molecules and nano-materials., Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures, revised ms

Due to their high coherence, a laser is a ubiquitous tool in science. We show that by engineering the coupling between the gain medium and the laser cavity as well as the laser cavity and the output port, it is possible to eliminate most of the noise due to photons entering as well as leaving the laser cavity. Hence, it is possible to reduce the laser linewidth by a factor equal to the number of photons in the laser cavity below the standard quantum limit. We design and theoretically analyze a superconducting circuit that uses Josephson junctions, capacitors and inductors to implement a microwave laser, including the low-noise couplers that allow the design to surpass the standard quantum limit. Our proposal relies on the elements of superconducting quantum information, and thus is an example of how quantum engineering techniques can inspire us to re-imagine the limits of conventional quantum systems., Comment: 34 pages, 23 figures

The implementation of a high-fidelity two-qubit quantum logic gate remains an outstanding challenge for isolated solid-state qubits such as Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. In this work, we show that by driving pairs of NV centers to undergo photon scattering processes that flip their qubit state simultaneously, we can achieve a unitary two-qubit gate conditioned upon a single photon detection event. Further, by exploiting quantum interference between the optical transitions of the NV centers electronic states, we realize the existence of two special drive frequencies: a `magic' point where the spin-preserving elastic scattering rates are suppressed, and a `balanced' point where the state-flipping scattering rates are equal. We analyzed four different gate operation schemes that utilize these two special drive frequencies, and various combinations of polarization in the drive and collection paths. Our theoretical and numerical calculations show that the gate fidelity can be as high as 97%. The proposed unitary gate, combined with available single qubit unitary operations, forms a universal gate set for quantum computing., Comment: 24 pages, 12 figures

We propose a topological plasmonic crystal structure composed of an array of parallel nanowires with unequal spacing. In the paraxial approximation, the Helmholtz equation that describes the propagation of light along the nanowires maps onto the Schr\"{o}dinger equation of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model. Using full three-dimensional finite difference time domain solution of the Maxwell equations we demonstrate the existence of topological defect modes, with sub-wavelength localization, bound to kinks of the plasmonic crystal. Furthermore, we show that by manipulating kinks we can construct spatial mode filters, that couple bulk modes to topological defect modes, and topological beam-splitters that couple two topological defect modes. Finally, we show that the structures are robust to fabrication errors with inverse length-scale smaller than the topological band gap., Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures

The photophysics and charge state dynamics of the nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond has been extensively investigated but is still not fully understood. In contrast to previous work, we find that NV$^{0}$ converts to NV$^{-}$ under excitation with low power near-infrared (1064 nm) light, resulting in $increased$ photoluminescence from the NV$^{-}$ state. We used a combination of spectral and time-resolved photoluminescence experiments and rate-equation modeling to conclude that NV$^{0}$ converts to NV$^{-}$ via absorption of 1064 nm photons from the valence band of diamond. We report fast quenching and recovery of the photoluminescence from $both$ charge states of the NV center under low power 1064 nm laser excitation, which has not been previously observed. We also find, using optically detected magnetic resonance experiments, that the charge transfer process mediated by the 1064 nm laser is spin-dependent.

We present a simple and effective method of loading particles into an optical trap in air at atmospheric pressure. Material which is highly absorptive at the trapping laser wavelength, such as tartrazine dye, is used as media to attach photoluminescent diamond nanocrystals. The mix is burnt into a cloud of air-borne particles as the material is swept near the trapping laser focus on a glass slide. Particles are then trapped with the laser used for burning or transferred to a second laser trap at a different wavelength. Evidence of successfully loading diamond nanocrystals into the trap presented includes high sensitivity of the photoluminecscence (PL) to an excitation laser at 520~nm wavelength and the PL spectra of the optically trapped particles. This method provides a convenient technique for the study of the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers contained in optically trapped diamond nanocrystals., Comment: 6 pages and 8 figures

We present measurements of the Berry Phase in a single solid-state spin qubit associated with the nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond. Our results demonstrate the remarkable degree of coherent control achievable in the presence of a highly complex solid-state environment. We manipulate the spin qubit geometrically by careful application of microwave radiation that creates an effective rotating magnetic field, and observe the resulting phase via spin-echo interferometry. We find good agreement with Berry's predictions within experimental errors. We also investigated the role of the environment on the geometric phase, and observed that unlike other solid-state qubit systems, the dephasing was primarily dominated by fast radial fluctuations in the path.

We present a detailed theoretical and numerical study discussing the application and optimization of phase estimation algorithms (PEAs) to diamond spin magnetometry. We compare standard Ramsey magnetometry, the non-adaptive PEA (NAPEA) and quantum PEA (QPEA) incorporating error-checking. Our results show that the NAPEA requires lower measurement fidelity, has better dynamic range, and greater consistency in sensitivity. We elucidate the importance of dynamic range to Ramsey magnetic imaging with diamond spins, and introduce the application of PEAs to time-dependent magnetometry.

We present an experimental method to perform dual-channel lock-in magnetometry of time-dependent magnetic fields using a single spin associated with a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color center in diamond. We incorporate multi-pulse quantum sensing sequences with phase estimation algorithms to achieve linearized field readout and constant, nearly decoherence-limited sensitivity over a wide dynamic range. Furthermore, we demonstrate unambiguous reconstruction of the amplitude and phase of the magnetic field. We show that our technique can be applied to measure random phase jumps in the magnetic field, as well as phase-sensitive readout of the frequency.

We describe a technique that enables a strong, coherent coupling between a single electronic spin qubit associated with a nitrogen-vacancy impurity in diamond and the quantized motion of a magnetized nano-mechanical resonator tip. This coupling is achieved via careful preparation of dressed spin states which are highly sensitive to the motion of the resonator but insensitive to perturbations from the nuclear spin bath. In combination with optical pumping techniques, the coherent exchange between spin and motional excitations enables ground state cooling and the controlled generation of arbitrary quantum superpositions of resonator states. Optical spin readout techniques provide a general measurement toolbox for the resonator with quantum limited precision.

We investigate the coherence properties of individual nuclear spin quantum bits in diamond [Dutt et al., Science, 316, 1312 (2007)] when a proximal electronic spin associated with a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center is being interrogated by optical radiation. The resulting nuclear spin dynamics are governed by time-dependent hyperfine interaction associated with rapid electronic transitions, which can be described by a spin-fluctuator model. We show that due to a process analogous to motional averaging in nuclear magnetic resonance, the nuclear spin coherence can be preserved after a large number of optical excitation cycles. Our theoretical analysis is in good agreement with experimental results. It indicates a novel approach that could potentially isolate the nuclear spin system completely from the electronic environment., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures

We report on the coherent optical excitation of electron spin polarization in the ground state of charged GaAs quantum dots via an intermediate charged exciton (trion) state. Coherent optical fields are used for the creation and detection of the Raman spin coherence between the spin ground states of the charged quantum dot. The measured spin decoherence time, which is likely limited by the nature of the spin ensemble, approaches 10 ns at zero field. We also show that the Raman spin coherence in the quantum beats is caused not only by the usual stimulated Raman interaction but also by simultaneous spontaneous radiative decay of either excited trion state to a coherent combination of the two spin states., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Minor modifications