Phys.org October 2, 2024
Optically addressable spin defects in 3D crystals and 2D van der Waals (vdW) materials are important for nanoscale quantum sensing. However, optically detected magnetic resonance of localized spin defects in a nanotube has not been observed. A team of researchers in the US (Purdue University, Indiana University) found single spin color centers in boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) at room temperature which suggested that BNNT spin defects possess a spin S = 1/2 ground state without an intrinsic quantization axis, leading to orientation-independent magnetic field sensing. Using this unique feature, they observed anisotropic magnetization of a 2D magnet in magnetic fields along orthogonal directions. They developed a method to deterministically transfer a BNNT onto a cantilever and used it to demonstrate scanning probe magnetometry. According to the researchers further refinement of their approach will enable atomic scale quantum sensing of magnetic fields in any direction… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Spin defect in a nanotube affixed to an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever. Credit: Nature Communications volume 15, Article number: 7697, 4 September 2024