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At least 1,243 records · Page 69

Orbital ice: An exact Coulomb phase on the diamond lattice

We demonstrate the existence of an orbital Coulomb phase as the exact ground state of a p-orbital exchange Hamiltonian on the diamond lattice. The Coulomb phase is an emergent state characterized by algebraic dipolar correlations and a gauge structure resulting from local constraints (ice rules) of the underlying lattice models. For most ice models on the pyrochlore lattice, these local constraints are a direct consequence of minimizing the energy of each individual tetrahedron. On the contrary, the orbital ice rules are emergent phenomena resulting from the quantum orbital dynamics. We show that the orbital ice model exhibits an emergent geometrical frustration by mapping the degenerate quantum orbital ground states to the spin-ice states obeying the 2-in-2-out constraints on the pyrochlore lattice. We also discuss possible realization of the orbital ice model in optical lattices with p-band fermionic cold atoms.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Holonomic Quantum Control by Coherent Optical Excitation in Diamond

Although geometric phases in quantum evolution are historically overlooked, their active control now stimulates strategies for constructing robust quantum technologies. Here, we demonstrate arbitrary singlequbit holonomic gates from a single cycle of nonadiabatic evolution, eliminating the need to concatenate two separate cycles. Our method varies the amplitude, phase, and detuning of a two-tone optical field to control the non-Abelian geometric phase acquired by a nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond over a coherent excitation cycle. Here, we demonstrate the enhanced robustness of detuned gates to excited-state decoherence and provide insights for optimizing fast holonomic control in dissipative quantum systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Efficient Source of Shaped Single Photons Based on an Integrated Diamond Nanophotonic System

An efficient, scalable source of shaped single photons that can be directly integrated with optical fiber networks and quantum memories is at the heart of many protocols in quantum information science. We demonstrate a deterministic source of arbitrarily temporally shaped single-photon pulses with high efficiency [detection efficiency = 14.9 %] and purity [g (2) (0) = 0.0168] and streams of up to 11 consecutively detected single photons using a silicon-vacancy center in a highly directional fiber-integrated diamond nanophotonic cavity. Finally, combined with previously demonstrated spin-photon entangling gates, this system enables on-demand generation of streams of correlated photons such as cluster states and could be used as a resource for robust transmission and processing of quantum information.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Quasi-Floquet Prethermalization in a Disordered Dipolar Spin Ensemble in Diamond

Floquet (periodic) driving has recently emerged as a powerful technique for engineering quantum systems and realizing nonequilibrium phases of matter. A central challenge to stabilizing quantum phenomena in such systems is the need to prevent energy absorption from the driving field. Fortunately, when the frequency of the drive is significantly larger than the local energy scales of the many-body system, energy absorption is suppressed. The existence of this so-called prethermal regime depends sensitively on the range of interactions and the presence of multiple driving frequencies. Here, we report the observation of Floquet prethermalization in a strongly interacting dipolar spin ensemble in diamond, where the angular dependence of the dipolar coupling helps to mitigate the long-ranged nature of the interaction. Moreover, we extend our experimental observation to quasi-Floquet drives with multiple incommensurate frequencies. In contrast to a single-frequency drive, we find that the existence of prethermalization is extremely sensitive to the smoothness of the applied field. In conclusion, our results open the door to stabilizing and characterizing nonequilibrium phenomena in quasiperiodically driven systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

First-principles study of the Stark shift effect on the zero-phonon line of the NV center in diamond

Point defects in semiconductors are attractive candidates for quantum information science applications owing to their ability to act as spin-photon interface or single-photon emitters. However, the coupling between the change of dipole moment upon electronic excitation and stray electric fields in the vicinity of the defect, an effect known as Stark shift, can cause significant spectral diffusion in the emitted photons. In this work, using first principles computations, we revisit the methodology to compute the Stark shift of point defects up to the second order. The approach consists of applying an electric field on a defect in a slab and monitoring the changes in the computed zero-phonon line (i.e., difference in energy between the ground and excited state) obtained from constraining the orbital occupations (constrained-DFT). Here, we study the Stark shift of the negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond using this slab approach. We discuss and compare two approaches to ensure a negatively charged defect in a slab and we show that converged values of the Stark shift measured by the change in dipole moment between the ground and excited states (Δ⁢μ) can be obtained. We obtain a Stark shift of Δ⁢μ = 2.68⁢D using the semilocal GGA-PBE functional and of Δ⁢μ = 2.23⁢D using the HSE hybrid functional. These values are in good agreement with experimental results. We also show that modern theory of polarization can be used on constrained-DFT to obtain Stark shifts in very good agreement with the slab computations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Single-Shot Readout and Weak Measurement of a Tin-Vacancy Qubit in Diamond

The negatively charged tin-vacancy center in diamond (SnV − ) is an emerging platform for building the next generation of long-distance quantum networks. This is due to the SnV − ’s favorable optical and spin properties including bright emission, insensitivity to electronic noise, and long spin coherence times at temperatures above 1 K. Here, we demonstrate measurement of a single SnV − electronic spin with a single-shot readout fidelity of 87.4%, which can be further improved to 98.5% by conditioning on multiple readouts. In the process, we develop understanding of the relationship between strain, magnetic field, spin readout, and microwave spin control. We show that high-fidelity readout is compatible with rapid microwave spin control, demonstrating a favorable parameter regime for use of the SnV − center as a high-quality spin-photon interface. Finally, we use weak quantum measurement to study measurement-induced dephasing; this illuminates the fundamental interplay between measurement and decoherence in quantum mechanics, and provides a universal method to characterize the efficiency of color-center spin readout. Taken together, these results overcome an important hurdle in the development of the SnV − -based quantum technologies and, in the process, develop techniques and understanding broadly applicable to the study of solid-state quantum emitters.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

High-dynamic-range transmission-mode detection of synchrotron radiation using X-ray excited optical luminescence in diamond

Enhancement of X-ray excited optical luminescence in a 100 µm-thick diamond plate by introduction of defect states via electron beam irradiation and subsequent high-temperature annealing is demonstrated. The resulting X-ray transmission-mode scintillator features a linear response to incident photon flux in the range 7.6 × 10 8 to 1.26 × 10 12 photons s -1 mm -2 for hard X-rays (15.9 keV) using exposure times from 0.01 to 5 s. These characteristics enable a real-time transmission-mode imaging of X-ray photon flux density without disruption of X-ray instrument operation.

Instruments & Instrumentation↗

Beamline K11 DIAD: a new instrument for dual imaging and diffraction at Diamond Light Source

The Dual Imaging and Diffraction (DIAD) beamline at Diamond Light Source is a new dual-beam instrument for full-field imaging/tomography and powder diffraction. This instrument provides the user community with the capability to dynamically image 2D and 3D complex structures and perform phase identification and/or strain mapping using micro-diffraction. The aim is to enable in situ and in operando experiments that require spatially correlated results from both techniques, by providing measurements from the same specimen location quasi-simultaneously. Using an unusual optical layout, DIAD has two independent beams originating from one source that operate in the medium energy range (7–38 keV) and are combined at one sample position. Here, either radiography or tomography can be performed using monochromatic or pink beam, with a 1.4 mm × 1.2 mm field of view and a feature resolution of 1.2 µm. Micro-diffraction is possible with a variable beam size between 13 µm × 4 µm and 50 µm × 50 µm. One key functionality of the beamline is image-guided diffraction, a setup in which the micro-diffraction beam can be scanned over the complete area of the imaging field-of-view. This moving beam setup enables the collection of location-specific information about the phase composition and/or strains at any given position within the image/tomography field of view. The dual beam design allows fast switching between imaging and diffraction mode without the need of complicated and time-consuming mode switches. Real-time selection of areas of interest for diffraction measurements as well as the simultaneous collection of both imaging and diffraction data of (irreversible) in situ and in operando experiments are possible.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

VerSoX B07-B: a high-throughput XPS and ambient pressure NEXAFS beamline at Diamond Light Source

The beamline optics and endstations at branch B of the Versatile Soft X-ray (VerSoX) beamline B07 at Diamond Light Source are described. B07-B provides medium-flux X-rays in the range 45-2200 eV from a bending magnet source, giving access to local electronic structure for atoms of all elements from Li to Y. It has an endstation for high-throughput X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure (NEXAFS) measurements under ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) conditions. B07-B has a second endstation dedicated to NEXAFS at pressures from UHV to ambient pressure (1 atm). The combination of these endstations permits studies of a wide range of interfaces and materials. The beamline and endstation designs are discussed in detail, as well as their performance and the commissioning process.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Phase transitions of α-quartz at elevated temperatures under dynamic compression using a membrane-driven diamond anvil cell: Clues to impact cratering?

Coesite and stishovite are high-pressure silica polymorphs known to have been formed at several terrestrial impact structures. They have been used to assess pressure and temperature conditions that deviate from equilibrium formation conditions. Here in this paper, we investigate the effects of nonhydrostatic, dynamic stresses on the formation of high-pressure polymorphs and the amorphization of α-quartz at elevated temperatures. The obtained disequilibrium states are compared with those predicted by phase diagrams derived from static experiments under equilibrium conditions. We analyzed phase transformations starting with α-quartz in situ under dynamic loading utilizing a membrane-driven diamond anvil cell. Using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction, the phase transitions of SiO 2 are identified up to 77.2 GPa and temperatures of 1160 K at compression rates ranging between 0.10 and 0.37 GPa s -1 . Coesite starts forming above 760 K in the pressure range between 2 and 11 GPa. At 1000 K, coesite starts to transform to stishovite. This phase transition is not completed at 1160 K in the same pressure range. Therefore, the temperature initiates the phase transition from α-quartz to coesite, and the transition from coesite to stishovite. Below 1000 K and during compression, α-quartz becomes amorphous and partially converts to stishovite. This phase transition occurs between 25 and 35 GPa. Above 1000 K, no amorphization of α-quartz is observed. High temperature experiments reveal the strong thermal dependence of the formation of coesite and stishovite under nonhydrostatic and disequilibrium conditions.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Magnesium isotopes of the bulk solar wind from Genesis diamond-like carbon films

–NASA’s Genesis Mission returned solar wind (SW) to the Earth for analysis to derive the composition of the solar photosphere from solar material. SW analyses control the precision of the derived solar compositions, but their ultimate accuracy is limited by the theoretical or empirical models of fractionation due to SW formation. Mg isotopes are “ground truth” for these models since, except for CAIs, planetary materials have a uniform Mg isotopic composition (within ≤1&) so any significant isotopic fractionation of SW Mg is primarily that of SW formation and subsequent acceleration through the corona. This study analyzed Mg isotopes in a bulk SW diamond-like carbon (DLC) film on silicon collector returned by the Genesis Mission. A novel data reduction technique was required to account for variable ion yield and instrumental mass fractionation (IMF) in the DLC. The resulting SW Mg fractionation relative to the DSM-3 laboratory standard was ( 14.4&, 30.2&) (4.1&, 5.5&), where the uncertainty is 2σ SE of the data combined with a 2.5& (total) error in the IMF determination. Two of the SW fractionation models considered generally agreed with our data. Their possible ramifications are discussed for O isotopes based on the CAI nebular composition of McKeegan et al. (2011).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Voltage-driven, local, and efficient excitation of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond

Magnetic sensing technology has found widespread application in a diverse set of industries including transportation, medicine, and resource exploration. These uses often require highly sensitive instruments to measure the extremely small magnetic fields involved, relying on difficult-to-integrate superconducting quantum interference devices and spin-exchange relaxation-free magnetometers. A potential alternative, nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, has shown great potential as a high-sensitivity and high-resolution magnetic sensor capable of operating in an unshielded, room-temperature environment. Transitioning NV center–based sensors into practical devices, however, is impeded by the need for high-power radio frequency (RF) excitation to manipulate them. We report an advance that combines two different physical phenomena to enable a highly efficient excitation of the NV centers: magnetoelastic drive of ferromagnetic resonance and NV-magnon coupling. Our work demonstrates a new pathway that combine acoustics and magnonics that enables highly energy-efficient and local excitation of NV centers without the need for any external RF excitation and, thus, could lead to completely integrated, on-chip, atomic sensors.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Photon-mediated interactions between quantum emitters in a diamond nanocavity

Photon-mediated interactions between quantum systems are essential for realizing quantum networks and scalable quantum information processing. We demonstrate such interactions between pairs of silicon-vacancy (SiV) color centers coupled to a diamond nanophotonic cavity. When the optical transitions of the two color centers are tuned into resonance, the coupling to the common cavity mode results in a coherent interaction between them, leading to spectrally-resolved superradiant and subradiant states. We use the electronic spin degrees of freedom of the SiV centers to control these optically-mediated interactions. Such controlled interactions will be crucial in developing cavity-mediated quantum gates between spin qubits and for realizing scalable quantum network nodes.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Nanoscale covariance magnetometry with diamond quantum sensors

Nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond are atom-scale defects that can be used to sense magnetic fields with high sensitivity and spatial resolution. Typically, the magnetic field is measured by averaging sequential measurements of single NV centers, or by spatial averaging over ensembles of many NV centers, which provides mean values that contain no nonlocal information about the relationship between two points separated in space or time. In this work, we propose and implement a sensing modality whereby two or more NV centers are measured simultaneously, and we extract temporal and spatial correlations in their signals that would otherwise be inaccessible. We demonstrate measurements of correlated applied noise using spin-to-charge readout of two NV centers and implement a spectral reconstruction protocol for disentangling local and nonlocal noise sources.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

A numerical study of surface-wave-based tunnel detection at the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, California

Detecting underground voids, such as old mine workings, solution cavities in karst terrain, or unknown tunnels such as illicit cross-border tunnels, is a challenging problem for geophysics and an important concern for geotechnical design, public safety, and domestic security. Seismic surface-wave-based detection methods have become increasingly popular for detecting relatively shallow and small targets; however, the theoretical limitations of these methods have thus far remained unclear. We use a suite of 3D numerical simulations inspired by a tunnel detection experiment carried out at the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve (BDM) in northern California. The geophysical anomalies predicted by our numerical simulations at BDM agree with field observations, and our estimates for the location of the primary tunnel target agree with historical records in the area. Using our calibrated numerical model, we perform a parametric study to determine the effect of tunnel size, depth of burial, filling material, and source characteristics to determine the range over which surface-wave backscattering and attenuation-based methods are effective. Additionally, we perform a regression analysis to determine a relationship for the maximum depth at which a tunnel may be detected via these approaches, given the target diameter, wavelength of interest, and the signal-to-noise ratio.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Simultaneous measurement of pressure evolution of crystal structure and superconductivity in FeSe[subscript 0.92] using designer diamonds

Simultaneous high-pressure X-ray diffraction and electrical resistance measurements have been carried out on a PbO-type {alpha}-FeSe{sub 0.92} compound to a pressure of 44 GPa and temperatures down to 4 K using designer diamond anvils at synchrotron source. A ambient temperature, a structural phase transition from a tetragonal (P4/nmm) phase to an orthorhombic (Pbnm) phase is observed at 11 GPa and the Pbnm phase persists up to 74 GPa. The superconducting transition temperature (T{sub c}) increases rapidly with pressure reaching a maximum of {approx}28 K at {approx}6 GPa and decreases at higher pressures, disappearing completely at 14.6 GPa. Simultaneous pressure-dependent X-ray diffraction and resistance measurements at low temperatures show superconductivity only in a low-pressure orthorhombic (Cmma) phase of the {alpha}-FeSe{sub 0.92}. Upon increasing pressure at 10 K near T{sub c}, crystalline phases change from a mixture of orthorhombic (Cmma) and hexagonal (P63/mmc) phases to a high-pressure orthorhombic (Pbnm) phase near 6.4 GPa where T{sub c} is maximum.

Uhoya, Walter↗

Supercontinuum generation in oxide and semiconductor materials (InP, Si, GaN, GaAs, PbMoO 4 , YVO 4 , ZGP, TiO 2 , diamond) pumped by radiation of the Cr:ZnS fs-MOPA system

Ultrashort light sources in the middle-infrared range are highly beneficial for applications such as gas molecular spectroscopy, remote sensing, atmospheric science, medical treatments, and light–matter interaction studies. Ultrafast lasers utilizing chromium-doped ZnS/Se (Cr:ZnS/Se) have proven to be robust and stable solutions within this spectral region. Nonlinear spectral broadening is fundamentally important, as it pushes the pulse duration limits imposed by the bandwidth of laser media. In this study, we demonstrate the spectral broadening and supercontinuum generation in several bulk materials, including InP, Si, GaN, GaAs, PbMoO 4 , YVO 4 , diamond, and TiO 2 , using pump radiation with up to 4 W average power centered at 2.35 µm from a Cr:ZnS femtosecond MOPA system. Some of the investigated materials have excellent potential as effective media for middle-infrared supercontinuum generation, demonstrating the feasibility of developing a single-cycle pulse middle-infrared laser system.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗