Researchers have reported the observation of long-lived Floquet prethermal states in a bulk solid composed of dipolar-coupled 13C nuclei in diamond at room temperature. For precessing nuclear spins prepared in an initial transverse state, we demonstrate pulsed spin-lock Floquet control that prevents their decay over multiple-minute long periods. Researchers observed Floquet prethermal lifetimes 𝑇2 ≈90.9s, extended >60,000-fold over the nuclear free induction decay times. The spins themselves are continuously interrogated for ∼10min, corresponding to the application of ≈5.8M control pulses. The 13C nuclei are optically hyperpolarized by lattice Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centres; the combination of hyperpolarization and continuous spin readout yields significant signal-to-noise in the measurements. This allows probing the Floquet thermalization dynamics with unprecedented clarity. We identify four characteristic regimes of the thermalization process, discerning short-time transient processes leading to the prethermal plateau, and long-time system heating towards infinite temperature. This work points to new opportunities possible via Floquet control in networks of dilute, randomly distributed, low-sensitivity nuclei. In particular, the combination of minutes-long prethermal lifetimes and continuous spin interrogation opens avenues for quantum sensors constructed from hyperpolarized Floquet prethermal nuclei.

Click HERE to read the full paper

To speak with one of our Sales & Applications Engineers please call 01582 764334 or click here to email.

Lambda Photometrics is the leading UK Distributor of Characterisation, Measurement and Analysis solutions with particular expertise in Instrumentation, Laser & Light based products, Optics, Electro-optic Testing, Spectroscopy, Machine Vision, Optical Metrology, Fibre Optics, Microscopy and Anti-vibration tables & custom solutions