Nuclear Spin Relaxation Induced by a Mechanical Resonator

C. L. Degen, M. Poggio, H. J. Mamin, and D. Rugar
Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 137601 – Published 2 April 2008

Abstract

We report on measurements of the spin lifetime of nuclear spins strongly coupled to a micromechanical cantilever as used in magnetic resonance force microscopy. We find that the rotating-frame correlation time of the statistical nuclear polarization is set by the magnetomechanical noise originating from the thermal motion of the cantilever. Evidence is based on the effect of three parameters: (1) the magnetic field gradient (the coupling strength), (2) the Rabi frequency of the spins (the transition energy), and (3) the temperature of the low-frequency mechanical modes. Experimental results are compared to relaxation rates calculated from the spectral density of the magnetomechanical noise.

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  • Received 21 December 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.137601

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

C. L. Degen1,*, M. Poggio1,2, H. J. Mamin1, and D. Rugar1

  • 1IBM Research Division, Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road, San Jose California, 95120, USA
  • 2Center for Probing the Nanoscale, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford California, 94305, USA

  • *degenc@gmail.com

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Vol. 100, Iss. 13 — 4 April 2008

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