Abstract
We demonstrate optically pumped dynamic nuclear polarization of nuclear spins that are strongly coupled to paramagnetic color centers in - and -SiC. The degree of polarization that we observe at room temperature corresponds to an effective nuclear temperature of . By combining ab initio theory with the experimental identification of the color centers’ optically excited states, we quantitatively model how the polarization derives from hyperfine-mediated level anticrossings. These results lay a foundation for SiC-based quantum memories, nuclear gyroscopes, and hyperpolarized probes for magnetic resonance imaging.
- Received 22 December 2014
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.247603
© 2015 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Polarizing Nuclear Spins in Silicon Carbide
Published 17 June 2015
An optical technique polarizes the spin of nuclei in silicon carbide, offering a potential new route to nuclear spin-based quantum memory.
See more in Physics