Isotope engineering for spin defects in van der Waals materials

Journal Article · Tue Jan 02 04:00:00 EST 2024 · Nature Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44494-3· OSTI ID:2578008

Gong, Ruotian; Du, Xinyi; Janzen, Eli; Liu, Vincent; Liu, Zhongyuan; He, Guanghui; Ye, Bingtian; Li, Tongcang; Yao, Norman; Edgar, James; Henriksen, Erik; Zu, Chong

Abstract

Spin defects in van der Waals materials offer a promising platform for advancing quantum technologies. Here, we propose and demonstrate a powerful technique based on isotope engineering of host materials to significantly enhance the coherence properties of embedded spin defects. Focusing on the recently-discovered negatively charged boron vacancy center ($$$${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$$$ $V_B^{-}$ ) in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), we grow isotopically purified h¹⁰B¹⁵N crystals. Compared to$$$${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$$$ $V_B^{-}$ in hBN with the natural distribution of isotopes, we observe substantially narrower and less crowded$$$${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$$$ $V_B^{-}$ spin transitions as well as extended coherence timeT₂and relaxation timeT₁. For quantum sensing,$$$${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$$$ $V_B^{-}$ centers in our h¹⁰B¹⁵N samples exhibit a factor of 4 (2) enhancement in DC (AC) magnetic field sensitivity. For additional quantum resources, the individual addressability of the$$$${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$$$ $V_B^{-}$ hyperfine levels enables the dynamical polarization and coherent control of the three nearest-neighbor¹⁵N nuclear spins. Our results demonstrate the power of isotope engineering for enhancing the properties of quantum spin defects in hBN, and can be readily extended to improving spin qubits in a broad family of van der Waals materials.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA (United States); Univ. of California, Oakland, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0019241; AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 2578008
• Journal Information: Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 15; ISSN 2041-1723
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: EN

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