A single NV defect coupled to a nanomechanical oscillator

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a hybrid system coupling a single NV center in a diamond nanocrystal to a nanomechanical oscillator, enabling nanomotion readout via spin-dependent forces and opening pathways for quantum control of mechanical systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel hybrid system combining a single NV center with a nanomechanical oscillator and demonstrates magnetic coupling for nanomotion detection.

Findings

Nanomechanical oscillator dynamics probed via fluorescence and photon correlation.

Magnetic coupling enables spin-based nanomotion readout.

Potential for active cooling and entanglement protocols.

Abstract

A single Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) center hosted in a diamond nanocrystal is positioned at the extremity of a SiC nanowire. This novel hybrid system couples the degrees of freedom of two radically different systems, i.e. a nanomechanical oscillator and a single quantum object. The dynamics of the nano-resonator is probed through time resolved nanocrystal fluorescence and photon correlation measurements, conveying the influence of a mechanical degree of freedom given to a non-classical photon emitter. Moreover, by immersing the system in a strong magnetic field gradient, we induce a magnetic coupling between the nanomechanical oscillator and the NV electronic spin, providing nanomotion readout through a single electronic spin. Spin-dependent forces inherent to this coupling scheme are essential in a variety of active cooling and entanglement protocols used in atomic physics, and should now be within the reach of nanomechanical hybrid systems.