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Generation of coherence in an exactly solvable nonlinear nanomechanical system

MetadataDetails
Publication Date2020-03-16
JournalPhysical review. B./Physical review. B
AuthorsAbhayveer Singh, L. Chotorlishvili, Saurabha Srivastava, I. Tralle, Z. Toklikishvili
InstitutionsBanaras Hindu University, Tbilisi State University
Citations14
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Technical Documentation & Analysis: Coherence Generation in NV-NEMS Hybrid Systems

Section titled “Technical Documentation & Analysis: Coherence Generation in NV-NEMS Hybrid Systems”

This document analyzes the research paper “Generation of coherence in an exactly solvable nonlinear nanomechanical system” and outlines how 6CCVD’s specialized CVD diamond materials and fabrication services are essential for replicating and advancing this critical work in quantum hybrid systems.


  • Core Research Focus: Analysis of the quantum dynamics and unitary generation of coherence in a hybrid system consisting of a Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) center coupled to a periodically driven, nonlinear nanomechanical oscillator (NEMS cantilever).
  • Material Requirement: The NV center, a spin-1 defect, requires ultra-high purity Single Crystal Diamond (SCD) to serve as a low-decoherence host lattice for quantum information processing.
  • Key Finding (Coherence): Efficient generation of quantum coherence through unitary evolution is maximized when the system is initially prepared in the chaotic region, corresponding to the vicinity of the classical separatrix.
  • Decoherence Mitigation: The study explicitly addresses decoherence, noting that non-Markovian noise primarily originates from surrounding $^{13}$C nuclear spins, necessitating isotopically purified diamond substrates.
  • 6CCVD Value Proposition: 6CCVD provides the necessary foundation—high-purity, low-strain SCD substrates with custom dimensions, precise polishing (Ra < 1nm), and integrated metalization capabilities—required for fabricating robust, low-loss NEMS-NV quantum devices.
  • Application: This research directly supports the development of next-generation quantum computation and quantum hybrid systems utilizing diamond-based NEMS.

The following hard parameters were extracted from the theoretical model describing the NV-NEMS hybrid system:

ParameterValueUnitContext
NV Center Frequency ($\omega_r / 2\pi$)5MHzIntrinsic frequency of the spin.
Rabi Frequency ($\Omega_R / 2\pi$)0.1 - 10MHzRange of Rabi frequency used for driving.
Detuning ($\delta$)1kHzDetuning between microwave and intrinsic spin frequency.
Cantilever Mass ($m$)$6 \times 10^{-17}$kgMass of the mechanical oscillator.
Coupling Constant ($k / 2\pi$)100kHzStiffness of the cantilever.
Zero Point Fluctuations ($a_0$)$\approx 5 \times 10^{-3}$mAmplitude of zero point fluctuations.
Energy Scale ($\epsilon V$)$\approx 10^{-9}$JEnergy scale of the problem dynamics.
Time Scale ($t$)$\approx 1/\omega_r$ (Microsecond)sCharacteristic time scale of the dynamics.
Critical Decoherence Source$^{13}$CNucleiPrimary source of non-Markovian noise in NV centers.
SCD Polishing RequirementRa < 1nmRequired for pristine NEMS interfaces (Inferred from application).

The theoretical framework employed to analyze the NV-NEMS system involved several advanced steps:

  1. Hamiltonian Construction: Defined the total Hamiltonian coupling the NV center spin ($H_S$) to a driven nonlinear oscillator, including linear ($H_0$), nonlinear ($H_{NL}$), and external driving ($V(x,t)$) terms.
  2. Classical Dynamics Solution: Solved the classical equation of motion for the cantilever, which is described by Mathieu elliptic functions due to the continuous periodic driving.
  3. Action-Angle Transformation: Transformed the cantilever Hamiltonian into canonical action-angle variables, simplifying the system to a mathematical pendulum coupled to a pseudospin 1/2 system.
  4. Quantum Solution: Formulated and solved the Mathieu-Schrödinger equation to find the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of the quantum cantilever dynamics.
  5. Decoherence Modeling (Markovian): Utilized the Lindblad master equation to model relaxation processes, calculating the time evolution of Purity ($P$) and von Neumann Entropy ($S$).
  6. Decoherence Modeling (Non-Markovian): Investigated the effects of the nuclear spin bath ($^{13}$C) using a model of N independent bosonic reservoirs, quantifying non-Markovian behavior via the trace distance rate $F(N,t)$.
  7. Coherence Quantification: Measured the generation of coherence under unitary evolution using the relative entropy $C(\rho(t) \vert \rho_d)$, demonstrating maximal coherence generation in the chaotic region.

This research relies fundamentally on the quality and customization of the diamond host material. 6CCVD is uniquely positioned to supply the necessary high-specification MPCVD diamond substrates and integrated fabrication services required for successful NEMS-NV quantum device engineering.

Applicable MaterialsSpecification & CapabilityRelevance to NV-NEMS Research
Optical Grade Single Crystal Diamond (SCD)SCD thickness range: 0.1”m to 500”m. Substrates up to 10mm thick.Provides the ultra-low strain, high-quality lattice necessary for stable NV center formation and long spin coherence times ($T_2$).
Isotopically Purified SCDCustom growth using $^{12}$C enriched precursors (typically >99.99% $^{12}$C).CRITICAL: Directly addresses the primary source of non-Markovian decoherence identified in the paper (the $^{13}$C nuclear spin bath), enabling longer quantum coherence times essential for practical applications.
Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD)Plates/wafers up to 125mm in diameter. Thickness up to 500”m.Suitable for large-scale NEMS fabrication or applications where large area coverage is prioritized over single-crystal $T_2$ performance.
Precision PolishingSCD: Ra < 1nm. Inch-size PCD: Ra < 5nm.Ensures pristine surface quality, minimizing surface defects that can introduce mechanical loss or charge noise, which is vital for high Q-factor NEMS cantilever performance.
Custom Dimensions & FabricationIn-house laser cutting and shaping services.Allows researchers to obtain diamond structures precisely sized for NEMS cantilever geometry and integration into microwave/RF driving setups.
Integrated MetalizationInternal capability for Au, Pt, Pd, Ti, W, Cu deposition.Essential for creating the electrodes and contact pads required to apply the external RF driving field ($V(x,t)$) and for microwave control of the NV spin.

6CCVD’s in-house PhD engineering team specializes in material selection and optimization for quantum applications. We offer consultation on:

  • Isotopic Purity: Determining the optimal $^{12}$C enrichment level to meet specific $T_2$ requirements for similar NV-NEMS hybrid system projects.
  • Defect Engineering: Advising on post-growth processing (e.g., irradiation and annealing) to control NV concentration and depth profile relative to the NEMS interface.
  • Interface Optimization: Selecting appropriate metalization stacks (e.g., Ti/Pt/Au) for robust electrical contacts and low-loss microwave transmission in the GHz range.

For custom specifications or material consultation, visit 6ccvd.com or contact our engineering team directly.

View Original Abstract

This study is focused on the quantum dynamics of a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center coupled to a nonlinear, periodically driven mechanical oscillator. For a continuous periodic driving that depends on the position of the oscillator, the mechanical motion is described by Mathieu elliptic functions. This solution is employed to study the dynamics of the quantum spin system including environmental effects and to evaluate the purity and the von Neumann entropy of the NV-spin. The unitary generation of coherence is addressed. We observe that the production of coherence through a unitary transformation depends on whether the system is prepared initially in mixed state. Production of coherence is efficient when the system initially is prepared in the region of the separatrix (i.e., the region where classical systems exhibit dynamical chaos). From the theory of dynamical chaos, we know that phase trajectories of the system passing through the homoclinic tangle have limited memory, and therefore the information about the initial conditions is lost. We proved that quantum chaos and diminishing of information about the mixed initial state favors the generation of quantum coherence through the unitary evolution. We introduced quantum distance from the homoclinic tangle and proved that for the initial states permitting efficient generation of coherence, this distance is minimal.