Inversion of the electron spin resonance signal from a P1 center in a synthetic diamond crystal

We have studied the electron spin resonance (ESR) of a 0.59 carat synthetic diamond single crystal at room temperature. The crystal was grown on a “split-sphere” apparatus in the Fe-Ni-C system by the temperature gradient method. After high-temperature/high-pressure treatment of the diamond, it was observed that as the microwave power supplied to the sample increased from 70 μW to 70 mW in an H₁₀₂ cavity, the ESR signal from the P1 center (a nitrogen atom substituting for carbon at a lattice point of the diamond crystal: C-form nitrogen) is inverted. In the original diamond (before high-temperature/high-pressure treatment), no inversion of the ESR signal was observed. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 1, pp. 9–12, January–February, 2006.     

Single-molecule electron spin resonance

In 1993, two collaborations independently achieved the first optical detection of a single electron spin, using paramagnetic resonance of the triplet state of a single molecule. We review the context of this work and the main later results and give a brief outlook for future experiments based on the detection and manipulation of single spins by optical methods.     

Conduction electron spin resonance in magnesium

We report on the observation of conduction electron spin resonance (CESR) in samples of specially purified magnesium. Measurements were made over the temperature range 4.2–300 K and at two frequencies, 9.27 and 21 GHz. It is found that in contrast with previous data, there is no upturn in the low temperature linewidth and little variation between samples.     

Conduction electron spin resonance in InAs

From e.s.r. measurements at 4.2°K the g-factor of the condition electrons in InAs is found to be -14.7. G-factor and spin resonance linewidth are given as a function of temperature up to 30°K.     

Hyperfine-mediated gate-driven electron spin resonance

An all-electrical spin resonance effect in a GaAs few-electron double quantum dot is investigated experimentally and theoretically. The magnetic field dependence and absence of associated Rabi oscillations are consistent with a novel hyperfine mechanism. The resonant frequency is sensitive to the instantaneous hyperfine effective field, and the effect can be used to detect and create sizable nuclear polarizations. A device incorporating a micromagnet exhibits a magnetic field difference between dots, allowing electrons in either dot to be addressed selectively.     

Acoustic detection of electron spin resonance

The ESR-signal of DPPH was recorded by detecting the modulation of the absorbed microwave power with a gas-coupled microphone. This photo-acoustic detection scheme is compared with conventional ESR-detection. Applications of the acoustical detection method to other modulation spectroscopic techniques, particularly NMR, are discussed.     

Mechanisms of flexural-strain-modulated electron spin resonance

Strain-modulated electron spin resonance (SMESR) spectra of V²⁺ and Mn²⁺ centers in MgO are reported and the results are compared with those obtained for MgO : Cr³⁺. The SMESR line intensities show a characteristic angular dependence, proving that modulation of the off-diagonal elements of the $\text{G}$-tensor is the predominant mechanism when a flexural mode of vibration is applied.For V²⁺ a small additional contribution due to modulation of the diagonal elements of $\text{G}$ is present.     

High resolution electron spin resonance microscopy

NMR microscopy is routinely employed in fields of science such as biology, botany, and materials science to observe magnetic parameters and transport phenomena in small scale structures. Despite extensive efforts, the resolution of this method is limited (>10 microm for short acquisition times), and thus cannot answer many key questions in these fields. We show, through theoretical prediction and initial experiments, that ESR microscopy, although much less developed, can improve upon the resolution limits of NMR, and successfully undertake the 1 mum resolution challenge. Our theoretical predictions demonstrate that existing ESR technology, along with advanced imaging probe design (resonator and gradient coils), using solutions of narrow linewidth radicals (the trityl family), should yield 64 x 64 pixels 2D images (with z slice selection) with a resolution of 1 x 1 x 10 microm at approximately 60 GHz in less than 1h of acquisition. Our initial imaging results, conducted by CW ESR at X-band, support these theoretical predictions and already improve upon the previously reported state-of-the-art for 2D ESR image resolution achieving approximately 10 x 10 mum, in just several minutes of acquisition time. We analyze how future progress, which includes improved resonators, increased frequency of measurement, and advanced pulsed techniques, should achieve the goal of micron resolution.     

Observation of conduction electron spin resonance in magnesium

We report the observation of conduction electron spion resonance in bulk samples of magnesium. The linewidths ranged from 240 gauss to 310 gauss and the g-factor was found to be 2.009 ± 0.002.     

Origin of the electron spin resonance signal in the manganites: from polarons to phase separation

In the manganites L_1?xM_xMnO₃ (L = La, Nd, Pr, …; M = Sr, Ba, Ca, …), the doping concentration introduces a mixed valence (Mn³⁺, Mn⁴⁺) which governs the magnetic and electric properties of the compound. Mn³⁺ (S = 2) is scarcely observed in electron spin resonance (ESR). In contrast, Mn⁴⁺ (S = 3/2), is a good ESR probe. However, X-band measurements show an enhanced Mn⁴⁺ susceptibility, which is the signature of some kind of coupling of the Mn⁴⁺ ions with the Mn³⁺ ions, but its exact nature is still controversial. We present multifrequency ESR experiments (9–385 GHz) obtained on different systems (La_1?δMnO₃, La_1?xMnO₃, La_1?xCa_xMnO₃, and Nd_1?xCa_xMnO₃) in the low-concentration range (0 <x< 0.33). In the paramagnetic regime, the Mn³⁺ spectrum cannot be observed because of fast relaxation. The signal arises from polarons, whose size, temperature and magnetic field dependences vary with M andx. The single line observed in the metallic compound evolves towards a double-peak structure visible at high frequency in La_0.97MnO₃. Its evolution with temperature below the magnetic transition reveals the presence of manganese ions in a different magnetic environment, i.e., phase separation. The magnetic order of the separated phase is not ferromagnetic. It is a more complex order, which depends substantially on the nature of the cation M.     

Optical detection of electron spin resonance in CdTe

We report the optical detection of electron spin resonance in p-type CdTe at 1.7 K in optical pumping conditions. The Overhauser shift of the electronic resonance, of the order of 45 G, is related to the sign of the electron g-factor g¹. We measure $\text{g}{}^1\text{= -1.59±0.02}$. Using this g¹ value and the previous results on the Knight shift, we deduce the value of the electron wavefunction on Cd in CdTe, which is consistent with the value in CdS.     

sd-Exchange electron spin resonance in a ferromagnetic metal

The possibility of resonance absorption in the terahertz range caused by the sd-exchange interaction at the incidence of an electromagnetic wave on a ferromagnetic metal has been predicted. The absorption coefficient has been calculated. It has been shown that the resonance frequency is determined by the magnetization of a ferromagnet and the absorption coefficient additionally depends on the orientation of the magnetization with respect to the plane of polarization of the wave.     

Nature of tunneling electron spin resonance of an isolated surface spin

A phenomenological model has been proposed for tunneling electron spin resonance (ESR) of an isolated surface spin situated in a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), which explains the dependence of features (local maxima) of the tunneling current on the radio-frequency (RF) electric field and on the position of the tip with respect to the spin. A crossover of the line shape of the resonance signals, whose nature in weak and strong pumping fields corresponds to Lorentzian and Fano resonances, respectively, has been interpreted. New ESR–STM effects that are linear and nonlinear in the RF field and are promising for developing the methods of controlling spin qubits have been predicted.     

Optical detection of conduction electron spin resonance in InP

Conduction electron spin resonance is optically detected in InP at 1.7 K. The measured value |g¹| = 1.26 ± 0.05 is in very good agreement with theoretical predictions and with the only other experimental determination available.     

The electron spin resonance of polycarbonate track detectors

Polycarbonate films are widely used as solid state track detectors (SSTDs) of radiation, but as yet our knowledge of the microscopic nature of the latent track is limited. The processes of chemical etching and thermal annealing are not fully understood. The lack of stability of track parameters bears on the accuracy of the charge determination of energetic heavy nuclei.

We have applied the technique of electron spin resonance, (ESR) in order to seek a correlation between the density of tracks and the growth and decay of free radicals detected by ESR. Samples of polycarbonate were irradiated with thermal neutrons and then etched progressively with NaOH. The ESR signal increased initially and then became weaker as the bulk of the polycarbonate was removed. Other samples were annealed after partial etching. ESR monitoring of this annealing showed that free radicals were recombining, probably due to diffusion processes.     

Analysis of high resolution electron spin resonance spectra

Previous interpretations of the electron spin resonance spectrum of Wurster's Blue cation are shown to be incorrect. In particular the nitrogen hyperfine splitting constant previously quoted as 0·28 gauss is, in fact, 7·0 gauss. A complete analysis of the spectrum is described.     

Inversion of atomic resonance transitions by electron collisional dissociation

Population inversion of several resonance transitions in the rare-earth atom thulium has been achieved by electron collisional dissociation of TmI₃ molecules in a fast electric discharge configuration. The inversion manifests itself by a strong spiking behavior during the initial current rise and lasts for several nanoseconds. Results of a model calculation of this inversion process for resonance lines support our experimental findings.     

Conduction electron spin resonance in acceptor-type graphite intercalation compounds

An initial survey of the conduction electron spin resonance is presented for a series of graphite compounds intercalated with acceptor molecules: stages 1–3 AsF₅, stages 2–5 HNO₃, and stage 2 Br₂ and ICl. The g-values and lineshapes were studied as functions of temperature and concentration. The results suggest metallic behavior but with very small density of states at the Fermi energy: N(E_F) ～10²⁰/cm³ eV. The temperature dependence of the linewidth is dominated by an order-disorder transition of the intercalant layers, implying that the conduction electrons are not entirely confined to the graphite portion of the crystal. The decrease in g-value anisotropy upon intercalation can be understood in terms of Elliott's theory.