Electron-to-nuclear spectral mapping via "Galton board" dynamic nuclear polarization

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to indirectly read electronic spin spectra by transferring polarization to nuclear spins, enabling enhanced, background-free ESR detection and applications in quantum sensing.

Contribution

It presents a novel spectral mapping technique using nuclear polarization transfer and a theoretical model linking system dynamics to a Galton board analogy.

Findings

Successful ESR spectrum readout via nuclear spins in diamond.

Enhanced signal-to-noise with spin-lock control on 13C nuclei.

Application demonstrated in underwater magnetometry.

Abstract

We report on a strategy to indirectly readout the spectrum of an electronic spin via polarization transfer to nuclear spins in its local environment. The nuclear spins are far more abundant and have longer lifetimes, allowing repeated polarization accumulation in them. Subsequent nuclear interrogation can reveal information about the electronic spectral density of states. We experimentally demonstrate the method for reading out the ESR spectrum of Nitrogen Vacancy center electrons in diamond via readout of lattice 13C nuclei. Spin-lock control on the 13C nuclei yields significantly enhanced signal-to-noise for the nuclear readout. Spectrally mapped readout presents operational advantages in being background-free and immune to crystal orientation and optical scattering. We harness these advantages to demonstrate applications in underwater magnetometry. The physical basis for the "one-to-many" spectral map is itself intriguing. To uncover its origin, we develop a theoretical model that maps the system dynamics, involving traversal of a cascaded structure of Landau-Zener anti-crossings, to the operation of a tilted "Galton board". This work points to new opportunities for "ESR-via-NMR" in dilute electronic systems, and in hybrid electron-nuclear quantum memories and sensors.