Nuclear Spin Patterning Controls Electron Spin Coherence

Published January 31, 2020

Electron spin resonance work shows how transition metal can retain quantum information, important work on the path to next-generation quantum technologies.

What did scientists discover?

This study focuses on molecules containing transition metals that possess a single unpaired electron spin, for example, vanadium(IV). Such systems are of potential interest for next-generation quantum technologies. Electron spin resonance studies demonstrate that patterning of the organic groups on the periphery of the molecule with different atomic nuclei, e.g., protons (H) and bromine (Br) provides a handle on the quantum memory time, Tm, of the vanadium spin. Five different patterns of the peripheral organic groups are shown in the figures.

Why is this important?

Achieving chemical control of the quantum coherence of electron spins in transition metal containing molecules is an important goal in the development of future quantum technologies. Atomic nuclei represent a stubborn source of magnetic noise that can dramatically shorten quantum memory times, hence the desire to be able to control such interactions chemically.

Who did the research?

Cassidy Jackson¹, Chun-Yi Lin¹, Spencer Johnson¹, Johan van Tol² and Joseph Zadrozny¹

¹Colorado State University, Fort Collins; ²National MagLab, Tallahassee

Why did they need the MagLab?

Many factors influence the quantum memory times (Tm) of electron spins in molecules. This study sought to isolate the influence of the atomic nuclei on the electron spin coherence, which necessitates measurements at high magnetic fields where the nuclear contribution dominates.