Nanomechanical sensing using spins in diamond

Nanomechanical sensors and quantum nanosensors are two rapidly developing technologies that have diverse interdisciplinary applications in biological and chemical analysis and microscopy. For example, nanomechanical sensors based upon nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) have demonstrated chip-scale mass spectrometry capable of detecting single macromolecules, such as proteins. Quantum nanosensors based upon electron spins of negatively-charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond have demonstrated diverse modes of nanometrology, including single molecule magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Here, we report the first step towards combining these two complementary technologies in the form of diamond nanomechanical structures containing NV centers. We establish the principles for nanomechanical sensing using such nano-spin-mechanical sensors (NSMS) and assess their potential for mass spectrometry and force microscopy. We predict that NSMS are able to provide unprecedented AC force images of cellular biomechanics and to, not only detect the mass of a single macromolecule, but also image its distribution. When combined with the other nanometrology modes of the NV center, NSMS potentially offer unparalleled analytical power at the nanoscale.Comment: Errors in the stress susceptibility parameters present in the original arXiv version have been correcte

Magnetic resonance force microscopy : harnessing nuclear spin fluctuations

Over the past few years, a wide variety of nuclear spin preparation techniques using hyperfine interaction-mediated dynamics have been developed in systems including gate-defined double quantum dots, self-assembled single quantum dots and nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. Here, we present a novel approach to nuclear spin state preparation by harnessing the naturally occuring stochastic fluctuations in nanoscale ensembles of nuclear spins in a semiconductor nanowire. Taking advantage of the excellent sensitivity of magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM) to monitor the statistical polarization fluctuations in samples containing very few nuclear spins, we develop real-time spin manipulation protocols that allow us to measure and control the spin fluctuations in the rotating frame. We focus on phosphorus and hydrogen nuclear spins associated with an InP and a GaP nanowire and their hydrogen-containing adsorbate layers. The weak magnetic moments of these spins can be detected with high spatial resolution using the outstanding sensitivty of MRFM. Recently, MRFM has been used to image the proton spin density in a tobacco mosaic virus with a sensitivity reaching up to 100 net polarized spins. We describe how MRFM together with real-time radio frequency (RF) control techniques can also be used for the hyperpolarization, narrowing and storage of nuclear spin fluctuations and discuss how such nuclear spin states could potentially be harnessed for applications in magnetic resonance and quantum information processing. In addition to presenting the experimental results on nuclear spin order, the theory of nuclear spin resonance and nanomechanical resonators is briefy discussed. The physical concepts explained provide the necessary background for the understanding of our MRFM experiments. The MRFM experimental apparatus, both sample-on- cantilever and magnet-on-cantilever, is also presented in considerable detail

Nanomechanical Sensing Using Spins in Diamond

Nanomechanical sensors and quantum nanosensors are two rapidly developing technologies that have diverse interdisciplinary applications in biological and chemical analysis and microscopy. For example, nanomechanical sensors based upon nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) have demonstrated chip-scale mass spectrometry capable of detecting single macromolecules, such as proteins. Quantum nanosensors based upon electron spins of negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond have demonstrated diverse modes of nanometrology, including single molecule magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Here, we report the first step toward combining these two complementary technologies in the form of diamond nanomechanical structures containing NV centers. We establish the principles for nanomechanical sensing using such nanospin-mechanical sensors (NSMS) and assess their potential for mass spectrometry and force microscopy. We predict that NSMS are able to provide unprecedented AC force images of cellular biomechanics and to not only detect the mass of a single macromolecule but also image its distribution. When combined with the other nanometrology modes of the NV center, NSMS potentially offer unparalleled analytical power at the nanoscaleWe acknowledge support by the ARC (DP140103862), the DAAD-Go8 Cooperation Scheme, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research MURI programme, DFG (SFB/TR21, FOR1493), Volkswagenstiftung, EU (DIADEMS, SIQS), and ER

Nanomechanical Sensing Using Spins in Diamond

Nanomechanical sensors and quantum nanosensors are two rapidly developing technologies that have diverse interdisciplinary applications in biological and chemical analysis and microscopy. For example, nanomechanical sensors based upon nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) have demonstrated chip-scale mass spectrometry capable of detecting single macromolecules, such as proteins. Quantum nanosensors based upon electron spins of negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond have demonstrated diverse modes of nanometrology, including single molecule magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Here, we report the first step toward combining these two complementary technologies in the form of diamond nanomechanical structures containing NV centers. We establish the principles for nanomechanical sensing using such nanospin-mechanical sensors (NSMS) and assess their potential for mass spectrometry and force microscopy. We predict that NSMS are able to provide unprecedented AC force images of cellular biomechanics and to not only detect the mass of a single macromolecule but also image its distribution. When combined with the other nanometrology modes of the NV center, NSMS potentially offer unparalleled analytical power at the nanoscale