Quantum spin dynamics

Abstract:

Achieving time-domain control of quantum states with atomic-scale spatial resolution in nanostructures is a long-term goal in quantum nanoscience and spintronics. Here, we demonstrate coherent spin rotations of individual atoms on a surface at the nanosecond time scale, using an all-electric scheme in a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). By modulating the atomically confined magnetic interaction between the STM tip and surface atoms, we drive quantum Rabi oscillations between spin-up and spin-down states in as little as ~20 nanoseconds. Ramsey fringes and spin echo signals allow us to understand and improve quantum coherence. We further demonstrate coherent operations on engineered atomic dimers. The coherent control of spins arranged with atomic precision provides a solid-state platform for quantum-state engineering and simulation of many-body systems.

Abstract:

The spin delocalization in the radical cations of a series of ethyne-linked oligoporphyrins was investigated using EPR spectroscopy. The room-temperature spectral envelope for these oligomers deviates significantly from the benchmark N–0.5 trend in line width expected for a completely delocalized spin density, in contrast to the butadiyne-linked analogues measured previously. Here, we show, using DFT calculations and complementary low-temperature ENDOR measurements, that this deviation is primarily driven by a more pronounced inequivalence of the 14N spins within individual subunits for the ethyne-linked oligoporphyrins. Once this 14N inequivalence is taken into consideration, the room-temperature and ENDOR spectra for both butadiyne-linked and ethyne-linked oligomers, up to N = 5, can be simulated by similar static delocalization patterns. This work highlights the importance of EPR in exploring such spin delocalization phenomena while also demonstrating that the N–0.5 trend should not be interpreted in isolation but only in combination with careful simulation and theoretical modeling.