Final Report Summary - NV QUANTUM SIMULATOR (Quantum Spin Simulators Based on Defects in Diamond)
The project aims at developing novel tools and techniques enabling quantum simulation using NV centers in diamond. This work stands to greatly impact research in quantum many-body physics, quantum information and computation, and quantum sensing.
The project has progressed based on the proposed work plan. We have constructed both confocal and widefield microscopes for studying NVs at ambient conditions, as well as a cryogenic NV confocal microscope. We have nearly completed the construction of a super-resolution (STED-based) microscope.
Regarding progress toward the project objectives, we performed noise spectroscopy experiments with shallow NVs, probing the 2D electron spin bath on the diamond surface, as well as optimized dynamical decoupling protocols for NV ensembles at low temperatures for extending coherence times of arbitrary quantum states. This is a necessary step toward achieving spin squeezing.
In terms of the main results, our noise spectroscopy research has unveiled novel noise sources affecting shallow NV centers, and has been published (Romach et. al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 017601, 2015). We have continued this work by studying novel schemes for noise spectroscopy (in collaboration with Stefan Hell's group in Gottingen, Germany), and have identified a continuous scheme based on the DYSCO sequence (manuscript currently in preparation).
In our low temperature dynamical decoupling work we obtained record coherence times of ~30 ms for arbitrary spin states of an ensemble, and it was published (Farfurnik et. al., Phys. Rev. B 92, 060301, 2015). We have supplemented this with an experimental analysis of a continuous dynamical decoupling scheme, which was found to be slightly less effective, although useful in the case of high-frequency noise (Farfurnik et. al., Phys. Rev. 96, 013850, 2017).
Moreover, we demonstrated a scheme for increasing NV density while maintaining the NV quantum properties through electron irradiation (in collaboration with the group of Eyal Buks from the Technion, Israel), which is necessary for reaching the interaction-dominated regime (Farfurnik et. al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 111, 123101, 2017).
We have also introduced a new technique for polarization transfer and detection between the NV and a surrounding spin bath (e.g. the 13C nuclear spin bath in diamond), offering improved performance over existing schemes, specifically when working at low magnetic fields and in the presence of noise (submitted, Hovav et. al., ArXiv:1711.01802).
Finally, we studied theoretically the dynamics of an interacting NV system, developing schemes for identifying coherent interactions in the presence of a noisy environment (submitted, Farfurnik et. al.,, ArXiv:1709.03370).
The researcher has been properly integrated in the university, establishing a state-of-the-art lab and an active research group. Future prospects include research contributions, active networking in Europe, securing of additional funding, and achieving tenure.
The project has progressed based on the proposed work plan. We have constructed both confocal and widefield microscopes for studying NVs at ambient conditions, as well as a cryogenic NV confocal microscope. We have nearly completed the construction of a super-resolution (STED-based) microscope.
Regarding progress toward the project objectives, we performed noise spectroscopy experiments with shallow NVs, probing the 2D electron spin bath on the diamond surface, as well as optimized dynamical decoupling protocols for NV ensembles at low temperatures for extending coherence times of arbitrary quantum states. This is a necessary step toward achieving spin squeezing.
In terms of the main results, our noise spectroscopy research has unveiled novel noise sources affecting shallow NV centers, and has been published (Romach et. al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 017601, 2015). We have continued this work by studying novel schemes for noise spectroscopy (in collaboration with Stefan Hell's group in Gottingen, Germany), and have identified a continuous scheme based on the DYSCO sequence (manuscript currently in preparation).
In our low temperature dynamical decoupling work we obtained record coherence times of ~30 ms for arbitrary spin states of an ensemble, and it was published (Farfurnik et. al., Phys. Rev. B 92, 060301, 2015). We have supplemented this with an experimental analysis of a continuous dynamical decoupling scheme, which was found to be slightly less effective, although useful in the case of high-frequency noise (Farfurnik et. al., Phys. Rev. 96, 013850, 2017).
Moreover, we demonstrated a scheme for increasing NV density while maintaining the NV quantum properties through electron irradiation (in collaboration with the group of Eyal Buks from the Technion, Israel), which is necessary for reaching the interaction-dominated regime (Farfurnik et. al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 111, 123101, 2017).
We have also introduced a new technique for polarization transfer and detection between the NV and a surrounding spin bath (e.g. the 13C nuclear spin bath in diamond), offering improved performance over existing schemes, specifically when working at low magnetic fields and in the presence of noise (submitted, Hovav et. al., ArXiv:1711.01802).
Finally, we studied theoretically the dynamics of an interacting NV system, developing schemes for identifying coherent interactions in the presence of a noisy environment (submitted, Farfurnik et. al.,, ArXiv:1709.03370).
The researcher has been properly integrated in the university, establishing a state-of-the-art lab and an active research group. Future prospects include research contributions, active networking in Europe, securing of additional funding, and achieving tenure.