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arXiv:1209.3365 · Physical Review B

Spin decoherence and electron spin bath noise of a nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond

Zhi‐Hui Wang, Susumu Takahashi

Published Mar 15, 2013• 89 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We theoretically investigate spin decoherence of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond. Using the spin coherent-state $P$-representation method, we simulate coherence evolution of the NV center coupled to surrounding nitrogen electron (N) spins. In the system, the strength of N-N coupling is the same order as that of NV-N coupling (the strong intrabath coupling regime). We find that spin decoherence time as well as free-induction decay of the NV center depend on the spatial configuration of N spins. Both the spin decoherence rate ($1/{T}_{2}$) and dephasing rate ($1/{T}_{2}^{*})$ of the NV center increase linearly with the concentration of the N spins. Using the $P$-representation method, we also demonstrate extracting the noise spectrum of the N spin bath. The capability to calculate the noise spectrum will provide promising pathways to suppress decoherence of spin systems in the strong intrabath coupling regime.

DOI
10.1103/physrevb.87.115122

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We theoretically investigate spin decoherence of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond. Using the spin coherent-state PPP-representation method, we simulate coherence evolution of the NV center coupled to surrounding nitrogen electron (N) spins. In the system, the strength of N-N coupling is the same order as that of NV-N coupling (the strong intrabath coupling regime). We find that spin decoherence time as well as free-induction decay of the NV center depend on the spatial configuration of N spins. Both the spin decoherence rate (1/T21/{T}_{2}1/T2​) and dephasing rate (1/T2∗)1/{T}_{2}^{*})1/T2∗​) of the NV center increase linearly with the concentration of the N spins. Using the PPP-representation method, we also demonstrate extracting the noise spectrum of the N spin bath. The capability to calculate the noise spectrum will provide promising pathways to suppress decoherence of spin systems in the strong intrabath coupling regime.
Abstract Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond have been developed into essential hardware units for a wide range of solid-state-based quantum technology applications. While such applications require the long spin coherence times of the NV centers, they are often limited due to decoherence. In this study, we theoretically investigate the decoherence of NV-spin ensembles induced by nitrogen impurities (P1 centers), which are one of the most dominant and inevitable magnetic field noise sources in diamond. We combined cluster correlation expansion and density functional theory to compute the Hahn-echo spin-coherence time of the NV centers for a broad range of P1 concentrations. Results indicate a clear linear dependence of T2 on P1 concentrations on a log scale with a slope of −1.06, which is in excellent agreement with previous experimental results. The interplay between the Jahn–Teller effect and the hyperfine interaction in the P1 center plays a critical role in determining the bath dynamics and the resulting NV decoherence. Our results provide a theoretical upper bound for the NV-spin T2 over a wide range of P1 densities, serving as a key reference for materials optimization and spin bath characterization to develop highly coherent NV-based devices for quantum information technology.
We investigate nitrogen-vacancy center (NV) ensembles in diamond under the influence of strongly correlated electron-spin baths. We thoroughly calculate the decoherence properties of the NV central spin for bath concentrations of 0.1–1000.1\text{--}1000.1–100 ppm using the cluster-correlation expansion (CCE) method. We systematically analyze possible origins of the significant deviations in the values of the T2{T}_{2}T2​ coherence time reported in the literature. We demonstrate that significant variations can originate from the choice of averaging and fitting procedures used for the ensemble average and we point out the respective aspects that need to be considered when comparing the various theoretical studies. Our study may inspire readers to perform reliable simulations on the central spin problem. It provides an understanding and interpretation of the outcome parameters describing the dynamics of the local bath spins.
The nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond, a well-studied, optically active spin defect, is the prototypical system in many state of the art quantum sensing and communication applications. In addition to the enticing properties intrinsic to the NV center, its diamond host's nuclear and electronic spin baths can be leveraged as resources for quantum information, rather than considered solely as sources of decoherence. However, current synthesis approaches result in stochastic defect spin positions, reducing the technology's potential for deterministic control and yield of NV-spin bath systems, as well as scalability and integration with other technologies. Here, we demonstrate the use of theoretical calculations of electronic central spin decoherence as an integral part of an NV-spin bath synthesis workflow, providing a path forward for the quantitative design of NV center-based quantum sensing systems. We use computationally generated coherence data to characterize the properties of single NV center qubits across relevant growth parameters to find general trends in coherence time distributions dependent on spin bath dimensionality and density. We then build a maximum likelihood estimator with our theoretical model, enabling the characterization of a test sample through NV T2* measurements. Finally, we explore the impact of dimensionality on the yield of strongly coupled electron spin systems. The methods presented herein are general and applicable to other qubit platforms that can be appropriately simulated.
Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond are a leading competitor for quantum sensing. The resolution of DC magnetic field sensing is limited by dephasing of the NV electron spin, with the main dephasing source being the thermal and quantum noise from the 13C^{13}\mathrm{C}13C nuclear spin bath. In this work, we propose an effective method to extend the dephasing time of a single NV electron spin by suppressing the nuclear spin noise. On the one hand, we improve the technique of bath driving to accommodate nuclear spin bath decoupling, and extend the dephasing time from 2.6 to 10.2 $\textmu{}\mathrm{s}$ at a magnetic field of 455 G. On the other hand, our method enables decoupling the quantum noise by inserting $\ensuremath{\pi}$ rotations around the ZZZ axis of the nuclear spin bath into the free evolution. By suppressing both the thermal and quantum noise, the dephasing time is extended by more than four times at 100 G. Our results provide a new route to explore strategies of suppressing the thermal noise and quantum noise in quantum information processing, and can be applied to other solid-state defects.
Decoherence is the biggest bottleneck in all quantum technologies. For nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, the loss of coherence is caused by the electron and nuclear spin bath of the diamond lattice. Here, we demonstrate that the spin bath - that typically causes decoherence - entangles the spin states of the NV electron and the host 14^{14}14N nucleus. The many-body interaction between the 14^{14}14N nucleus - electron - bath spins at an energy level anti-crossing occurring for an applied magnetic field orientation perpendicular to the NV axis is responsible for this effect. This is observed experimentally in NV ensembles via electron spin-echo measurements, where the echo envelope is modulated at the frequency of a 14^{14}14N nuclear spin transition. Using numerical simulations, we show that the spin bath coupling to the NV centers is essential for observing this modulation. Due to the zero first-order Zeeman effect at the anti-crossing, the observed oscillations have long spin-echo coherence times, 2--3 times those at the parallel magnetic field orientation. The oscillation frequency is highly stable and robust against environmental fluctuations. These findings provide new opportunities for fundamental studies of many-body physics and quantum sensing.
Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond have emerged in the last decade as a prominent platform for quantum technologies. As for any qubit system, a good understanding of their local environment is crucial to build quantum devices protected from detrimental noise. Here, we describe in detail a method to spectroscopically characterize the spin bath around an NV center, even when the NV coherence time is short, and identify the coherent coupling with the nearest nuclear spins. In the regime of weak qubit-bath coupling, the acquired knowledge of the bath reliably predicts the qubit dynamics under different controls.