Laser Pulses for Studying Photoactive Spin Centers with EPR

Area of Science:

• Quantum Technologies
• Solid-State Physics
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• High-fidelity spin manipulation is essential for quantum technologies like computing and secure communication.
• Controlled optical initialization of electron spins is a critical step for achieving this manipulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a low-cost programming scheme for precise optical spin initialization.
• To facilitate high-precision measurements of optically active solid-state spin centers.
• To investigate electron-nuclear interactions for quantum memory development.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 32-bit STM32F373 microcontroller for a multi-pulse sequence.
• Employed semiconductor and solid-state lasers (405-1064 nm) for optical pulse shaping.
• Validated measurements using photoinduced electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopies.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated effective shaping of short optical pulses across various lasers.
• Validated the scheme's precision for solid-state spin centers in SiC, hBN, and diamond.
• Observed that pulsed laser irradiation influences EPR relaxation parameters crucial for quantum computing.

Conclusions:

• The developed scheme offers a low-cost solution for high-precision optical spin initialization.
• This approach aids in investigating weak electron-nuclear interactions for quantum memory.
• The findings are vital for advancing quantum computing and secure communication technologies.