Nanomechanical detection of nuclear magnetic resonance using a silicon nanowire oscillator

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a silicon nanowire oscillator as a sensitive force sensor for nuclear magnetic resonance detection of hydrogen spins in polystyrene at low temperatures, achieving near-thermal noise limits.

Contribution

It introduces a novel magnetic resonance force detection protocol using a nanoscale current-carrying wire to couple nuclear spins to a nanowire oscillator.

Findings

Achieved nearly thermally-limited force noise of 1.9 aN^2/Hz.

Successfully detected statistical polarization of 1H spins.

Developed a new protocol for magnetic resonance force detection.

Abstract

We report the use of a silicon nanowire mechanical oscillator as a low-temperature nuclear magnetic resonance force sensor to detect the statistical polarization of 1H spins in polystyrene. Under operating conditions, the nanowire experienced negligible surface-induced dissipation and exhibited a nearly thermally-limited force noise of 1.9 aN^2/Hz in the measurement quadrature. In order to couple the 1H spins to the nanowire oscillator, we have developed a new magnetic resonance force detection protocol which utilizes a nanoscale current-carrying wire to produce large time-dependent magnetic field gradients as well as the rf magnetic field.