Symmetry of the Hyperfine and Quadrupole Interactions of Boron Vacancies in a Hexagonal Boron Nitride

TL;DR

This study characterizes the hyperfine and quadrupole interactions of boron vacancy defects in hexagonal boron nitride, providing detailed spectroscopic data and confirming spin localization on nearby nitrogen atoms, advancing quantum defect research.

Contribution

The paper provides the first detailed experimental analysis of all terms of the VB spin Hamiltonian in hBN, including symmetry, anisotropy, and principal values of hyperfine and quadrupole interactions.

Findings

Hyperfine interaction is axially symmetric with specific coupling constants.

Nuclear quadrupole interaction characterized by a quadrupole coupling constant of 1.96 MHz.

84% of the VB electron spin density is localized on the three nearest nitrogen atoms.

Abstract

The concept of optically addressable spin states of deep level defects in wide band gap materials is successfully applied for the development of quantum technologies. Recently discovered negatively charged boron vacancy defects (VB) in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) potentially allow a transfer of this concept onto atomic thin layers due to the van der Waals nature of the defect host. Here, we experimentally explore all terms of the VB spin Hamiltonian reflecting interactions with the three nearest nitrogen atoms by means of conventional electron spin resonance and high frequency (94 GHz) electron-nuclear double resonance. We establish symmetry, anisotropy, and principal values of the corresponding hyperfine interaction (HFI) and nuclear quadrupole interaction (NQI). The HFI can be expressed in the axially symmetric form as Aperp = 45.5 MHz and Apar = 87 MHz, while the NQI is characterized by quadrupole coupling constant Cq = 1.96 MHz with slight rhombisity parameter n = (Pxx - Pyy)/Pzz = -0.070. Utilizing a conventional approach based on a linear combination of atomic orbitals and HFI values measured here, we reveal that almost all spin density (84 %) of the VB electron spin is localized on the three nearest nitrogen atoms. Our findings serve as valuable spectroscopic data and direct experimental demonstration of the VB spin localization in a single two dimensional BN layer.