Optical Polarization of Nuclear Spins in Silicon Carbide

We demonstrate optically pumped dynamic nuclear polarization of (29)Si nuclear spins that are strongly coupled to paramagnetic color centers in 4H- and 6H-SiC. The 99%±1% degree of polarization that we observe at room temperature corresponds to an effective nuclear temperature of 5  μK. By combining...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2015-06, Vol.114 (24), p.247603-247603, Article 247603
Main Authors: Falk, Abram L, Klimov, Paul V, Ivády, Viktor, Szász, Krisztián, Christle, David J, Koehl, William F, Gali, Ádám, Awschalom, David D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Color centers
Dynamics
Foundations
Joining
Nuclear gyroscopes
Nuclear spin
Polarization
Silicon carbide
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Summary:We demonstrate optically pumped dynamic nuclear polarization of (29)Si nuclear spins that are strongly coupled to paramagnetic color centers in 4H- and 6H-SiC. The 99%±1% degree of polarization that we observe at room temperature corresponds to an effective nuclear temperature of 5  μK. 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.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.114.247603