Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Optimizing Magnetic Force Microscopy Resolution and Sensitivity to Visualize Nanoscale Magnetic Domains
Published on: July 20, 2022
Atomic-scale magnetometry of distant nuclear spin clusters via nitrogen-vacancy spin in diamond
Nan Zhao1, Jian-Liang Hu, Sai-Wah Ho
1Department of Physics and Center for Quantum Coherence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
Abstract:
The detection of single nuclear spins is an important goal in magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Optically detected magnetic resonance can detect single nuclear spins that are strongly coupled to an electron spin, but the detection of distant nuclear spins that are only weakly coupled to the electron spin has not been considered feasible. Here, using the nitrogen-vacancy centre in diamond as a model system, we numerically demonstrate that it is possible to detect two or more distant nuclear spins that are weakly coupled to a centre electron spin if these nuclear spins are strongly bonded to each other in a cluster. This cluster will stand out from other nuclear spins by virtue of characteristic oscillations imprinted onto the electron spin decoherence profile, which become pronounced under dynamical decoupling control. Under many-pulse dynamical decoupling, the centre electron spin coherence can be used to measure nuclear magnetic resonances of single molecules. This atomic-scale magnetometry should improve the performance of magnetic resonance spectroscopy for applications in chemical, biological, medical and materials research, and could also have applications in solid-state quantum computing.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Overview
Atomic Nuclei: Magnetic Resonance
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Magnetic Moment
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin
Atomic nuclei have a net nuclear spin, , which can have an integer or half-integer value. In atomic nuclei, the spins of protons are paired against each other but not with neutrons, and vice versa. Consequently, an even number of protons does not contribute to...
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Population Distribution

