Magnetic resonance detection of individual proton spins using a quantum reporter network

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel quantum sensing method using a network of electronic-spin qubits on diamond surfaces, enabling single proton spin detection and imaging with nanometer and angstrom resolution under ambient conditions.

Contribution

It presents a new quantum reporter network platform for magnetic resonance imaging of individual proton spins with high spatial resolution and ambient operation.

Findings

Single nuclear-spin sensitivity achieved at room temperature

Nanometer-scale localization of quantum reporter spins

Angstrom resolution imaging of surface proton spins

Abstract

We demonstrate a method of magnetic resonance imaging with single nuclear-spin sensitivity under ambient conditions. It employs a network of isolated electronic-spin quantum bits (qubits) that act as quantum reporters on the surface of high purity diamond. The reporter spins are localized with nanometer-scale uncertainty, and their quantum state is coherently manipulated and measured optically via a proximal nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color center located a few nanometers below the diamond surface. The quantum reporter network is then used for sensing, coherent coupling and imaging individual proton spins on the diamond surface with angstrom resolution. This approach may enable direct structural imaging of complex molecules that cannot be accessed from bulk studies. It realizes a new platform for probing novel materials, monitoring chemical reactions, and manipulation of complex systems on surfaces at a quantum level.