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Interplay between geometric and dynamic phases in a single-spin system

MetadataDetails
Publication Date2020-09-23
JournalPhysical review. B./Physical review. B
AuthorsA. A. Wood, Kirill Streltsov, R. M. Goldblatt, Martin B. Plenio, Lloyd C. L. Hollenberg
InstitutionsUniversitÀt Ulm, Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology
Citations6
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Technical Documentation & Analysis: Geometric Phases in NV Centers

Section titled “Technical Documentation & Analysis: Geometric Phases in NV Centers”

6CCVD Material Science Analysis of arXiv:2005.05619v1


This research paper details the experimental investigation of non-adiabatic Aharonov-Anandan (AA) geometric phases in the ground state triplet of a single Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) center in diamond. The findings have significant implications for the design of fault-tolerant quantum gates.

  • Core Achievement: Successful measurement of the AA geometric phase accumulated during cyclic spin evolution driven by detuned microwave (mw) C-pulses and free precession dynamics.
  • Material Requirement: The experiment relies critically on a high-purity, $^{12}$C-enriched CVD diamond substrate, mounted on the (100) face, to achieve long coherence times (T2 $\approx$ 50 ”s, T1 $\approx$ 1 ms).
  • Methodology: The total phase is decomposed into dynamic ($\Phi_{dyn}$) and geometric ($\Phi_{AA}$) components, with the global phase detected via reference interferometry using the third spin level (ms = 0 $\leftrightarrow$ ms = -1 transition).
  • Key Challenge: The study reveals that in the microwave rotating frame, the AA phase is accompanied by an inseparable dynamic phase, which suppresses the purely geometric dependence of the system dynamics.
  • 6CCVD Value Proposition: Replication and extension of this research requires ultra-high purity, low-strain Single Crystal Diamond (SCD) with precise crystal orientation, a core specialization of 6CCVD’s MPCVD growth capabilities.

The following hard data points were extracted from the experimental setup and results described in the paper:

ParameterValueUnitContext
Diamond Material$^{12}$C-enriched CVDSCDSubstrate optimized for low noise and long coherence
Crystal Orientation(100)FaceMounting orientation for NV axis control
Coherence Time (T2)50”sTypical room-temperature performance
Relaxation Time (T1)1msTypical room-temperature performance
NV Zero-Field Splitting (Dzfs/2$\pi$)2.870GHzIntrinsic ground state triplet splitting
Gyromagnetic Ratio ($\gamma$/2$\pi$)2.8MHz G-1Zeeman shift constant
Bias Magnetic Field (B)15GApplied along the surface normal ($\theta$ = 54.7° to NV axis)
Microwave Rabi Frequency ($\Omega$)$\le$ 500kHzUsed to minimize off-resonant dressing of hyperfine states
Detuning Range ($\Delta$)$\pm$ 1.0MHzRange used for C-pulse detuning variation
Copper Wire Diameter20”mUsed for applying microwave fields
Copper Wire Distance100”mDistance above diamond surface

The experimental investigation of the geometric and dynamic phase interplay utilized precise control over the NV spin state through a combination of optical and microwave techniques:

  1. Material Selection and Preparation: A $^{12}$C-enriched CVD diamond was selected and mounted on the (100) face to ensure high isotopic purity, low strain, and optimal NV axis alignment relative to the applied magnetic field.
  2. Magnetic Field Application: A 15 G magnetic bias field was applied to lift the degeneracy of the ms = $\pm$1 states, enabling individual addressing of the two-level pseudospin subspaces ({0, +1} and {0, -1}).
  3. Microwave Pulse Generation: Three independently tunable microwave sources were used, gated by fast switches, and applied via a 20 ”m copper wire positioned 100 ”m above the diamond surface. The Rabi frequency ($\Omega$) was kept low ($\le$ 500 kHz).
  4. Cyclic Evolution (C-Pulses): Detuned microwave pulses (C-pulses) were applied for one Rabi period, $t_{2\pi}(\Delta) = 2\pi / \sqrt{\Omega^{2} + \Delta^{2}}$, driving the spin along a cone trajectory on the Bloch sphere to accumulate the AA phase ($\Phi_{AA}$).
  5. Nested Interferometry: Complex pulse sequences (e.g., Sequence 1, 2, 3, 4) nested the C-pulse evolution within a resonant Ramsey interferometry sequence. This allowed the global phase accumulated in the driven subspace (e.g., {0, +1}) to be read out as a relative phase shift using the undriven subspace (e.g., {0, -1}) as a reference.
  6. Phase Characterization: The resulting NV ms = 0 bright state population was measured, varying the C-pulse detuning ($\Delta$) and the cumulative rotation number (N) to characterize the phase shift, which was fitted to the form $\cos^{2}(N\Phi_{T})$.

The demanding requirements of non-adiabatic geometric phase experiments—specifically the need for ultra-high purity, low-strain diamond with precise geometry and potential for integrated microwave control—are perfectly aligned with 6CCVD’s core manufacturing expertise.

Research Requirement6CCVD Solution & CapabilityTechnical Advantage for Quantum Research
Ultra-High Purity Substrate ($^{12}$C-enriched, low N)Optical Grade Single Crystal Diamond (SCD). We specialize in MPCVD growth of SCD with extremely low defect density (N < 5 ppb) and high isotopic enrichment (> 99.999% $^{12}$C).Guarantees maximum T1 and T2 coherence times (essential for complex, multi-pulse sequences) and minimizes decoherence from spin bath noise.
Specific Crystal Orientation ((100) face)Custom Crystal Orientation and Polishing. We offer SCD wafers grown and polished to specific orientations ((100), (111), (110)) with superior surface roughness (Ra < 1 nm).Ensures precise alignment of the NV axis relative to external fields, critical for controlled Zeeman splitting and reproducible quantum gate operations.
Custom Sample Geometry (Implied small, precise cuts for mw setup)Custom Dimensions and Laser Machining. We provide SCD plates/wafers up to 125 mm (PCD) and substrates up to 10 mm thick, cut to exact specifications.Facilitates integration into specialized experimental setups, such as optimizing sample size for high-efficiency coupling to micro-wires or coplanar waveguides.
Integrated Microwave Control (Future on-chip striplines)Advanced Metalization Services. Internal capability for depositing thin films (Au, Pt, Pd, Ti, W, Cu) with high precision lithography.Enables direct fabrication of on-chip microwave delivery structures, simplifying the setup and improving the fidelity of the C-pulses and Ramsey sequences.
Replication & Extension SupportIn-House PhD Engineering Support. Our expert team assists with material selection, doping control (e.g., shallow NV creation), and surface termination optimization for quantum applications.Provides authoritative guidance to accelerate research, ensuring the diamond material properties are perfectly matched to the requirements of geometric phase measurement and fault-tolerant quantum computing projects.

For custom specifications or material consultation, visit 6ccvd.com or contact our engineering team directly. We ship globally (DDU default, DDP available).

View Original Abstract

We use a combination of microwave fields and free precession to drive the spin of a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond on different trajectories on the Bloch sphere and investigate the physical significance of the frame-dependent decomposition of the total phase into geometric and dynamic parts. The experiments are performed on a two-level subspace of the spin-1 ground state of the NV, where the Aharonov-Anandan geometric phase manifests itself as a global phase, and we use the third level of the NV ground-state triplet to detect it. We show that while the geometric Aharonov-Anandan phase retains its connection to the solid angle swept out by the evolving spin, it is generally accompanied by a dynamic phase that suppresses the geometric dependence of the system dynamics. These results offer insights into the physical significance of frame-dependent geometric phases.