Coherent control of two nuclear spins using the anisotropic hyperfine interaction

We demonstrate coherent control of two nuclear spins mediated by the magnetic resonance of a hyperfine-coupled electron spin. This control is used to create a double-nuclear coherence in one of the two electron spin manifolds, starting from an initial thermal state, in direct analogy to the creation of an entangled (Bell) state from an initially pure unentangled state. We identify challenges and potential solutions to obtaining experimental gate fidelities useful for quantum information processing in this type of system.     

Prediction of hyperdeformed nuclear states at very high spins

Calculations based on the generalized cranking-Strutinsky method with the deformed Woods-Saxon potential predict the existence of extremely elongated hyperdeformed nuclear shapes with the axis ratios significantly exceeding2:1. The strongest effect is expected to take place for nuclei around ¹⁶⁶Er, ¹⁶⁸Yb, and ¹⁷⁰Hf (Z = 68, 70, 72; N = 98) for spins as high as the fission limit down to I ∼ 10–20. The chances for observing those states in nature are discussed in detail. Systematic occurrences of the superdeformed and hyperdeformed states also in lighter (A ∼ 70, and A ∼ 100) nuclei are suggested as a consequence of the approximate pseudo-oscillator (or pseudo-SU(3) symmetries of the realistic nuclear mean field.     

Search for high-spin states in29Si using a neutron time-of-flight spectrometer

The²⁶Mg(α,nγ) reaction has been used in connection with a neutron time-of-flight spectrometer to search for high spin states in²⁹Si betweenE _x =8.4 and 11.4 MeV. The γ-decay of twenty levels has been observed. Nine levels have not been observed before. A candidate for theJ ^π=13/2^?,K=7/2 state has been located with theE _x =8761 keV level.     

Electron and nuclear spin dynamics in plastically deformed silicon crystals enriched in isotope 29Si

Paramagnetic defects of a new type with a concentration of about 10¹⁵ cm^?3 are shown to be generated during the plastic deformation of isotope-rich (72%, 76% ²⁹Si) silicon crystals at a temperature of 950°C. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of these defects are anisotropic and have a significant width (up to 1 kOe). The nonuniform broadening of the EPR lines is caused by the variation of the internal magnetic field in correlated defect clusters. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the deformed crystals consist of Pake doublets split by nuclear spin-spin interaction. The broadening of the NMR spectra is caused by nuclear dipole-dipole relaxation.     

Spectroscopy of highly excited states in29Si

Particleγ-ray coincidences have been measured in the²⁸Si (d,pγ) reaction at 6.5 and 7 MeV bombarding energy, in the²⁶Mg (α,nγ) reaction at 12, 14 and 15 MeV, and in the²⁷A1 (τ,pγ) reaction at 9 MeV. Theγ-decay has been observed for all bound states of²⁹Si and for 56 unbound states up to 12,960 KeV excitation energy. Particleγ-ray angular correlations were measured in the²⁸Si (d,pγ) reaction at 6.5 MeV and in the²⁶Mg (α,nγ) reaction at 12 MeV. Spin (-parity) assignments or restrictions were obtained for nearly all bound states and some high-spin states above the binding energy. The assignment of mirror levels in²⁹Si and²⁹P has been extended to 8.2 MeV excitation energy. The excitation energies of 41 positive-parity states are reproduced by shell model calculations. The possible existence of aK ^π=5/2⁺ band with prolate deformation is discussed.     

Exploring the photoexcited triplet states of aluminum and tin corroles by time-resolved Q-band EPR

The photoexcited triplet states of three 5,10, 15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corroles (tpfc), hosting Sn(IV) and Al(III) in their core, namely, Sn(Cl)(tpfc), Al(pyr)₂(tpfc) and Al(pyr)₂(tpfc-Br₈), were studied by time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectroscopy in the nematic liquid crystal E7. Only two of these metallocorroles, namely, Sn(Cl)(tpfc) and Al(pyr)₂(tpfc-Br₈), exhibit TREPR spectra following pulsed laser excitation. This result is rationalized in terms of a very low quantum yield of triplet formation in Al(pyr)₂(tpfc). Analysis of the spin polarized Q-band (34 GHz) EPR spectra of Sn(Cl)(tpfc) and Al(pyr)₂(tpfc-Br₈) provides detailed information on the magnetic and kinetic parameters of the triplet states as well as on the molecular ordering of the complexes in the liquid crystal. With the assignment of the zero-field splitting parameterD<0 for the Sn(Cl)(tpfc) and Al(pyr)₂(tpfc-Br₈), one can evaluate the dominant intersystem crossing path for these metallocorroles. Analysis reveals that in Sn(Cl)(tpfc) the in-plane triplet sublevels are preferentially populated, i.e.,A _X, A_Y?A _Z. This can be rationalized in terms of weak electronic interactions between the Sn(IV) ion and the corrole π-system, consistent with the domed structure of Sn(Cl)(tpfc). In Al(pyr)₂(tpfc-Br₈), however, the out-of-plane triplet sublevel is predominantly populated, i.e.,A _Z>A _X, A_Y, which is attributed to a large increase in the spin-orbit coupling strength arising from the peripheral bromine atoms on the corrole skeleton.     

Generating entanglement and squeezed states of nuclear spins in quantum dots

We present a scheme for achieving coherent spin squeezing of nuclear spin states in semiconductor quantum dots. The nuclear polarization dependence of the electron spin resonance generates a unitary evolution that drives nuclear spins into a collective entangled state. The polarization dependence of the resonance generates an area-preserving, twisting dynamics that squeezes and stretches the nuclear spin Wigner distribution without the need for nuclear spin flips. Our estimates of squeezing times indicate that the entanglement threshold can be reached in current experiments.     

Two-magnon bound states in a system of coupled electronic and nuclear spins

Two-particle complexes in ferromagnets with hyperfine electronic-nuclear coupling have been studied. The secular equation has been obtained and analysed (with numerical methods as well) in the middle and in the end of the Brillouin zone for 1- and 3-dimensional lattices (of s.c. structure). The existence of new types of complexes (nuclear-nuclear and electronic-nuclear) in strongly anisotropic systems has been established.     

Magnetic-field dependent optically detected ESR in the photoexcited triplet states of bridged Zr(IV) metallocenes

We report on the magnetic-field-dependent optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) spectra for polycrystalline samples of the bridged Zr(IV) metallocenes, Me₂Si<(Cp₂)ZrCl₂ ( (dimethylsilylbis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium-dichloride) and Me₂C<(Cp₂)ZrCl₂ (iso-propylidenebis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium-dichloride). ODMR spectra at zero magnetic field were recorded by frequency sweeping a microwave source from 0.1 to 10 GHz with the sample contained in a microwave helix. ODMR spectra at finite magnetic fields were recorded with the sample contained in either a helix or a slotted-tube resonator with a fixed microwave frequency and sweeping the magnetic field. For all experiments, the sample and microwave probes were contained in an immersion dewar cryostat, and the temperature was held at about 2 K. All three zero field ODMR transitions (2|E|, and |D| − |E| and |D|+|E|) were observed in the frequency-swept ODMR spectra recorded at zero and small magnetic fields. The zero-field frequency-swept spectra allowed the determination ofD andE values uniquely. For frequency-swept small-field ODMR spectra recorded at successively higher magnetic fields, each of the ODMR line intensities was observed to increase with increasing magnetic field. This intensity increase was observed for all three ODMR lines, reflecting an increase in the total intensity rather than simply a change in the polarization of the triplet sublevels. The latter would result in a change in the relative intensities of the ODMR lines but would not change simultaneously the intensities of all three lines. The ODMR line intensities increase in proportion toB ⁿ, wheren<1. This field dependence is weaker than the expected proportionalB ² dependence from the Zeeman effect, which likely originates from the magnetic field dependence of the spin relaxation rates between the triplet sublevels. Magnetic-field-swept ODMR spectra recorded at fixed microwave frequencies in the X-band frequency range (9.8 GHz) do not show all three expected classic Pake powder pattern line shape profiles, exhibited by the molecules with their magneticZ, Y, andX axes parallel to the external magnetic field. In particular, the intensity for molecular magneticY-axes parallel to the external magnetic field is completely suppressed. In addition, an external magnetic field dependence in field-swept ODMR spectra was observed, which results in a linear decrease of the ODMR intensity with increasing strength of the external magnetic field over and above that would be expected in a polycrystalline spectrum. The data are analyzed by simulation of the continuous-wave ESR spectrum with the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the spin Hamiltonian matrix characterizing the triplet state exhibiting the ODMR spectrum, in conjunction with homotopy, as a function of the orientations of the magnetic axes of the various molecules in a polycrystalline sample. This approach is useful to interpret the experimentally observed ODMR transition frequencies andg-values but does not take the amplitudes in the ODMR spectrum. The corrections required to modify the continuous-wave ESR spectral amplitudes that reproduce the observed ODMR amplitudes are effects associated with the ODMR processes.     

Coherent dynamics of photoexcited green fluorescent proteins

The coherent dynamics of vibronic wave packets in the green fluorescent protein is reported. At room temperature the nonstationary dynamics following impulsive photoexcitation displays an oscillating optical transmissivity pattern with components at 67 fs (497 cm(-1)) and 59 fs (593 cm(-1)). Our results are complemented by ab initio calculations of the vibrational spectrum of the chromophore. This analysis shows the interplay between the dynamics of the aminoacidic structure and the electronic excitation in the primary optical events of green fluorescent proteins.     

Non-stationary excitonic-insulator states in photoexcited semiconductors

Time dependent solutions of the semiconductor Bloch equations (SBE) are presented for zero external field which can be identified with a possible dynamics of the so called excitonic-insulator state (EIS) of a semiconductor after the laser pulse has switched off. The collective oscillation of the macroscopic polarization locks into a definite frequency depending on the energy absorbed during the interaction time with the ultra short laser pulse. This dynamical state is different from a stationary EIS proposed previously to be the final state for detunings above the exciton instability and will be demonstrated to appear already for off-resonant excitation. Numerical results are presented for a quasi 1d-model with long-range Coulomb interaction.     

Evidence for neutron capture through doorway states in29Si

Theγ-ray spectra following neutron capture in silicon have teen recorded in the neutron energy range 2.7–6.2 MeV and partial cross sections forγ-rays to the 2s_1/2 ground state and 1d_3/2 first excited states in²⁹Si determined. The results indicate considerable fluctuations with neutron energy with a prominent resonance peak at 4.6 MeV in the (n,γ _o) cross section. The existence of fluctuations is predicted in a recent theoretical calculation based on a model designed to include single-particle resonances in nuclear reaction processes.     

Proximity effects of a symmetry-breaking interface on spins of photoexcited electrons

We study reflection of optically spin-oriented hot electrons as a means to probe the semiconductor crystal symmetry and its intimate relation with the spin-orbit coupling. The symmetry breaking by reflection manifests itself by tipping the net-spin vector of the photoexcited electrons out of the light propagation direction. The tipping angle and the pointing direction of the net-spin vector are set by the crystal-induced spin precession, momentum alignment, and spin-momentum correlation of the initial photoexcited electron population. We examine nonmagnetic semiconductor heterostructures and semiconductor-ferromagnet systems and show the unique signatures of these effects.     

Coherent manipulation of electron spins in the {Cu3} spin triangle complex impregnated in nanoporous silicon

We report on coherent manipulation of electron spins in an antiferromagnetically coupled spin triangle {Cu3-X} (X=As, Sb) impregnated in freestanding nanoporous silicon (NS) by using 240 GHz microwave pulses. Rabi oscillations are observed and the spin coherence time is found to be T(2)=1066 ns at 1.5 K. This demonstrates that the {Cu3-X}:NS hybrid material provides a promising scheme for implementing spin-based quantum gates. By measuring the spin relaxation times of samples with different symmetries and environments we give evidence that a spin chirality is the main decoherence source of spin triangle molecules.     

Experimental detection of qubit-ququart pseudo-bound entanglement using three nuclear spins

In this work, we experimentally created and characterized a class of qubit-ququart PPT (positive under partial transpose) entangled states using three nuclear spins on an nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) quantum information processor. Entanglement detection and characterization for systems with a Hilbert space dimension $\ge 2?3$ is nontrivial since there are states in such systems which are both PPT as well as entangled. The experimental detection scheme that we devised for the detection of qubit-ququart PPT entanglement was based on the measurement of three Pauli operators with high precision, and is a key ingredient of the protocol in detecting entanglement. The family of PPT-entangled states considered in the current study are incoherent mixtures of five pure states. All the five states were prepared with high fidelities and the resulting PPT entangled states were prepared with mean fidelity ≥ 0.95. The entanglement thus detected was validated by carrying out full quantum state tomography (QST).     

Electronic states of silicon in Ni-silicides by nuclear magnetic resonance

Spin-lattice relaxation time (T₁) of ²⁹Si nuclei in several Ni-silicides (Ni_1?xSi_x:0.25?x?0.67) were studied at low temperature (1.4?T?4.2 K) by spin-echo technique. The relation of T₁T = const. and also very short T₁ were observed indicating that the silicides studied were metallic with enough densities of state of 3s-electrons at the Fermi energy (E_F). Another feature of the results was that T₁ decreased with the increment of silicon concentration. This effect was discussed in connection with the soft X-ray spectroscopy (SXS) data on Ni-silicides and Ni—Al compounds.     

Photoelectrically detected magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the excited triplet states of point defects in silicon

Highly sensitive methods for the detection of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra based on the spin-dependent microwave photoconductivity were applied to investigate the structural defects in irradiated silicon. The parameters of the EPR spectra of the excited triplet states of radiation defects were determined and several models of the carbon related defects were supposed. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 774–777 (May 1999) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Reproduced here with stylistic changes by the Translation Editor.