Abstract
Precise readout of spin states is crucial for any approach toward physical realization of a spin-based quantum computer and for magnetometry with single spins. Here, we report a method to strongly improve the optical readout fidelity of electron spin states associated with single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. The signal-to-noise ratio is enhanced significantly by performing conditional flip-flop processes between the electron spin and the nuclear spin of the NV center’s nitrogen atom. The enhanced readout procedure is triggered by a short preparatory pulse sequence. As the nitrogen nuclear spin is intrinsically present in the system, this method is universally applicable to any nitrogen-vacancy center. Besides the readout method, our studies included coherent control over a single nitrogen nuclear spin for the first time.
- Received 11 September 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.81.035205
©2010 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Benefits of a roundabout
Published 19 January 2010
The signal-to-noise ratio for room-temperature readout of individual qubits can be substantially improved by taking an indirect route through intermediate energy levels.
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