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At least 145 records · Page 8

High pressure synthesis and magnetic studies of quasi one dimensional systems Sr(n-1)Cu(n+1)O(2n) (n=3,5)

SrCu2O3 and Sr2Cu3O5 containing two-leg and three-leg S = 1/2 ladders made of antiferromagnetic Cu-O-Cu linear bonds, respectively, were synthesized at high pressure, and their crystallographic and magnetic properties were investigated. Both susceptibility and T(1) data of NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) revealed the existence of a large spin gap only for SrCu2O3. Superconductivity, which had been predicted theoretically for carrier-doped SrCu2O3 could not be realized although partial substitution of La(3+) for Sr(2+) seemed to be carried out successfully. Electron carriers injected seems to remain localized.

Azuma, M.↗

Knight Shift and Leading Superconducting Instability from Spin Fluctuations in Sr 2 RuO 4

We report that recent nuclear magnetic resonance studies [A. Pustogow et al. , Nature 574, 72 (2019)] have challenged the prevalent chiral triplet pairing scenario proposed for Sr 2 RuO 4 . To provide guidance from microscopic theory as to which other pair states might be compatible with the new data, we perform a detailed theoretical study of spin fluctuation mediated pairing for this compound. We map out the phase diagram as a function of spin-orbit coupling, interaction parameters, and band structure properties over physically reasonable ranges, comparing when possible with photoemission and inelastic neutron scattering data information. We find that even-parity pseudospin singlet solutions dominate large regions of the phase diagram, but in certain regimes spin-orbit coupling favors a near-nodal odd-parity triplet superconducting state, which is either helical or chiral depending on the proximity of the γ band to the van Hove points. A surprising near degeneracy of the nodal s ' and d x 2 - y 2 wave solutions leads to the possibility of a near-nodal time-reversal symmetry broken s ' + i d x 2 - y 2 pair state. Lastly, predictions for the temperature dependence of the Knight shift for fields in and out of plane are presented for all states.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Spin squeezing of macroscopic nuclear spin ensembles

Spin squeezing has been explored in atomic systems as a tool for quantum sensing, improving experimental sensitivity beyond the spin standard quantum limit for certain measurements. To optimize absolute metrological sensitivity, it is beneficial to consider macroscopic spin ensembles, such as nuclear spins in solids and liquids. Coupling a macroscopic spin ensemble to a parametrically-modulated resonant circuit can create collective spin squeezing by generating spin correlations mediated by the circuit. We analyze the squeezing dynamics in the presence of decoherence and finite spin polarization, showing that achieving 7 dB spin squeezing is feasible in several nuclear spin systems. The metrological benefit of squeezing a macroscopic spin ensemble lies in the suppression of technical noise sources in the spin detection system relative to the spin projection noise. This expands the experimental sensitivity bandwidth when searching for signals of unknown frequency and can improve the resonant signal-to-noise ratio. Squeezing macroscopic spin ensembles may prove to be a useful technique for fundamental physics experiments aimed at detecting spin interactions with oscillating background fields, such as ultralight dark matter. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Boyers, Eric↗

Optically pumped spin polarization as a probe of many-body thermalization

Disorder and many body interactions are known to impact transport and thermalization in competing ways, with the dominance of one or the other giving rise to fundamentally different dynamical phases. Here we investigate the spin diffusion dynamics of 13 C in diamond, which we dynamically polarize at room temperature via optical spin pumping of engineered color centers. We focus on low-abundance, strongly hyperfine-coupled nuclei, whose role in the polarization transport we expose through the integrated impact of variable radio-frequency excitation on the observable bulk 13 C magnetic resonance signal. Unexpectedly, we find good thermal contact throughout the nuclear spin bath, virtually independent of the hyperfine coupling strength, which we attribute to effective carbon-carbon interactions mediated by the electronic spin ensemble. In particular, observations across the full range of hyperfine couplings indicate the nuclear spin diffusion constant takes values up to two orders of magnitude greater than that expected from homo-nuclear spin couplings.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Electron spin resonance spectroscopy with femtoliter detection volume

We report electron spin resonance measurements of donors in silicon at millikelvin temperatures using a superconducting LC planar micro-resonator and a Josephson parametric amplifier. The resonator includes a nanowire inductor, defining a femtoliter detection volume. Due to strain in the substrate, the donor resonance lines are heavily broadened. In this work, single-spin to photon coupling strengths up to ~ 3 kHz are observed. The single shot sensitivity is 120 ± 24 spins/Hahn echo, corresponding to ≈ 12 ± 3 spins / Hz for repeated acquisition.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Magnetic detwinning and biquadratic magnetic interaction in EuFe 2 As 2 revealed by 153 Eu NMR

In the nematic state of iron-based superconductors, twin formation often obscures the intrinsic, anisotropic, in-plane physical properties. Relatively high in-plane external magnetic fields H ext greater than the typical laboratory-scale magnetic fields 10–15 T are usually required to completely detwin a sample. However, recently a very small in-plane H ext ~ 0.1 T was found to be sufficient for detwinning the nematic domains in EuFe 2 As 2 . To explain this behavior, a microscopic theory based on biquadratic magnetic interactions between the Eu and Fe spins has been proposed. In this paper, using 153 Eu nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements below the Eu 2+ ordering temperature, we show experimental evidence of the detwinning under small in-plane H ext . Our NMR study also reveals the evolution of the angles between the Eu and Fe spins during the detwinning process, which provides experimental evidence for the existence of biquadratic coupling in the system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Static and dynamic magnetic properties of the spiin-$\frac{5}{2}$triangle lattice antiferromagnet Na 3 Fe(PO 4 ) 2 studied by 31 P NMR

We report 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements have been carried out to investigate the magnetic properties and spin dynamics of Fe 3+ (S = 5/2) spins in the two-dimensional triangular lattice (TL) compound Na 3 Fe(PO 4 ) 2 . The temperature (T) dependence of nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rates (1/T 1 ) shows a clear peak around Néel temperature, T N = 10.9 K, corresponding to an antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition. From the temperature dependence of NMR shift (K) above T N , an exchange coupling between Fe 3+ spins was estimated to be J/k B ≃ 1.9 K using the spin-5/2 Heisenberg isotropic-TL model. The temperature dependence of 1/T 1 T divided by the magnetic susceptibility (χ), 1/T 1 T χ , above T N proves the AFM nature of spin fluctuations below ~50 K in the paramagnetic state. In the magnetically ordered state below T N , the characteristic rectangular shape of the NMR spectra is observed, indicative of a commensurate AFM state in its ground state. The strong temperature dependence of 1/T 1 in the AFM state is well explained by the two-magnon (Raman) process of the spin waves in a 3D antiferromagnet with a spin-anisotropy energy gap of 5.7 K. The temperature dependence of sublattice magnetization is also well reproduced by the spin waves. Those results indicate that the magnetically ordered state of Na 3 Fe(PO 4 ) 2 is a conventional 3D AFM state, and no obvious spin frustration effects were detected in its ground state

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Structure of amorphous materials in the NASICON system Na 1+x Ti 2 Si x P 3−x O 12

Abstract The structure of glasses in the sodium (Na) super-ionic conductor (NASICON) system Na 1 + x Ti 2 Si x P 3 − x O 12 with x = 0.8 and x = 1.0 was explored by combining neutron and high-energy x-ray diffraction with 29 Si, 31 P and 23 Na solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The 29 Si magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra reveal that the silica component remains fully polymerized in the form of Si 4 units, i.e. the silicon atoms are bound to four bridging oxygen atoms. The 31 P{ 23 Na} rotational echo adiabatic passage double resonance (REAPDOR) NMR data suggest that the 31 P MAS NMR line shape originates from four-coordinated P n units, where n = 1, 2 or 3 is the number of bridging oxygen atoms per phosphorus atom. These sites differ in their 31 P- 23 Na dipolar coupling strengths. The results support an intermediate range order scenario of a phosphosilicate mixed network-former glass in which the phosphate groups selectively attract the Na + modifier ions. Titanium takes a sub-octahedral coordination environment with a mean Ti–O coordination number of 5.17(4) for x = 0.8 and 4.86(4) for x = 1.0. A mismatch between the P–O and Si–O bond lengths of 8% is likely to inhibit the incorporation of silicon into the phosphorus sites of the NASICON crystal structure.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Information-Guided Dynamic Nuclear Polarization

A spin ensemble in thermal equilibrium continuously undergoes random fluctuations analogous to those observed in Brownian motion, a process known as spin noise. Here, we investigate the dynamics of a system comprising a spin-1 paramagnetic center and a hyperfine-coupled spin-1/2 nucleus in the vicinity of a level crossing. We theoretically show that nuclear spins polarize efficiently under the combined action of thermal fluctuations and a closed-loop feedback protocol. The latter articulates periodic observations of the electronic magnetization and radio-frequency pulses connecting hybrid states with opposite nuclear spin alignment. Since nuclear polarization emerges from electronic spin fluctuations, not spin order, this microwave-free technique generically benefits from warmer, not colder, operation temperatures. Furthermore, because the spin dynamics at play near a level crossing is rather insensitive to the absolute value of the magnetic field, our work promises opportunities for high-field dynamic nuclear polarization, which is difficult to attain through present methods.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Annual Report on NCSP Technical Support task in BNL during FY25

This work reports on the investigations done during FY 25 in collaboration with one 2025 Summer undergraduate intern through the DOE SULI program. These efforts were partially funded by the Nuclear Criticality Safety Program through the Technical Support Succession Plan task. This project, developed by Matthew Molnar, aimed to apply the BNL’s machine-learning code to correct spin mis-assignments in neutron resonances, the Bayesian Resonance Reclassifier (BRR), to the odd-even nucleus 143 Nd. For this, the handling of spingroup classification had to be further investigated and improved.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Proton magnetic relaxation and internal rotations in tetramethylammonium cadmium chloride

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and relaxation studies of the proton spin-lattice relaxation time (PSLRT) and proton second moment (PSM) are reported. Tetramethylammonium cadmium chloride (TMCC) was selected as a diamagnetic member of the isomorphic series, and hence proton data relate directly to the motion of the tetramethylammonium ion in the absence of paramagnetic ions. In the model adopted, the correlation time for hindered motion of one of the methyl groups differs from that of the other three groups in the low-temperature phase below 104 K. PSLRT and PSM values agree closely with experimental data with this model. Crystallographic phase transitions in TMCC occur at 104 K and 119 K according to the PSLRT measurements. Dipolar interactions between adjacent protons account for the PSLR rates below 104 K.

Tsang, T.↗

Imaging Sequences for Hyperpolarized Solids

Hyperpolarization is one of the approaches to enhance Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) signal by increasing the population difference between the nuclear spin states. Imaging hyperpolarized solids opens up extensive possibilities, yet is challenging to perform. The highly populated state is normally not replenishable to the initial polarization level by spin-lattice relaxation, which regular MRI sequences rely on. This makes it necessary to carefully “budget” the polarization to optimize the image quality. In this paper, we present a theoretical framework to address such challenge under the assumption of either variable flip angles or a constant flip angle. In addition, we analyze the gradient arrangement to perform fast imaging to overcome intrinsic short decoherence in solids. Hyperpolarized diamonds imaging is demonstrated as a prototypical platform to test the theory.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Developing New Q-meters for NMR Measurements of Polarized Solids

Enhanced polarization of target nuclei can be measured via the complex impedance of a resonant circuit coupled to the target while sweeping the circuit through the nuclear Larmor frequency, observing the absorption or emission of energy by the spins in the material. For decades, solid polarized targets at Jefferson Lab have relied upon continuous-wave Nuclear Magnetic Resonance polarization measurements using Liverpool Q-meter systems. These Liverpool Q-meters are no longer produced, and replacing the aging components is becoming increasingly difficult. The polarized target group at Bochum has produced replacement Q-meters in the Liverpool style using modern components, and we are following their example while researching improvemnts to the technique. We discuss our efforts to produce improved Q-meters for upcoming experiments utilizing solid polarized targets in Jefferson Lab's Hall B.

Maxwell, James↗

Single nuclear spin detection and control in a van der Waals material

Optically active spin defects in solids are leading candidates for quantum sensing and quantum networking. Recently, single spin defects were discovered in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), a layered van der Waals (vdW) material. Owing to its two-dimensional structure, hBN allows spin defects to be positioned closer to target samples than in three-dimensional crystals, making it ideal for atomic-scale quantum sensing, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of single molecules. However, the chemical structures of these defects remain unknown and detecting a single nuclear spin with a hBN spin defect has been elusive. Here we report the creation of single spin defects in hBN using 13 C ion implantation and the identification of three distinct defect types based on hyperfine interactions. We observed both S = 1/2 and S = 1 spin states within a single hBN spin defect. We demonstrated atomic-scale NMR and coherent control of individual nuclear spins in a vdW material, with a π-gate fidelity up to 99.75% at room temperature. By comparing experimental results with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we propose chemical structures for these spin defects. Our work advances the understanding of single spin defects in hBN and provides a pathway to enhance quantum sensing using hBN spin defects with nuclear spins as quantum memories.

Quantum metrology↗

Floquet Prethermalization with Lifetime Exceeding 90 s in a Bulk Hyperpolarized Solid

Here, we report the observation of long-lived Floquet prethermal states in a bulk solid composed of dipolar-coupled 13 C nuclei in diamond at room temperature. For precessing nuclear spins prepared in an initial transverse state, we demonstrate pulsed spin-lock Floquet control that prevents their decay over multiple-minute-long periods. We observe Floquet prethermal lifetimes $T^{'}_{2}$≈90.9 s, extended >60 000-fold over the nuclear free induction decay times. The spins themselves are continuously interrogated for ~10 min, corresponding to the application of ≈5.8×10 6 control pulses. The 13 C nuclei are optically hyperpolarized by lattice nitrogen vacancy centers; the combination of hyperpolarization and continuous spin readout yields significant signal-to-noise ratio in the measurements. This allows probing the Floquet thermalization dynamics with unprecedented clarity. We identify four characteristic regimes of the thermalization process, discerning short-time transient processes leading to the prethermal plateau and long-time system heating toward infinite temperature. This Letter points to new opportunities possible via Floquet control in networks of dilute, randomly distributed, low-sensitivity nuclei. In particular, the combination of minutes-long prethermal lifetimes and continuous spin interrogation opens avenues for quantum sensors constructed from hyperpolarized Floquet prethermal nuclei.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

13 C Radiofrequency Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation Threshold Sensing of Chemical Reactions

Conventional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) enables detection of chemicals and their transformations by exciting nuclear spin ensembles with a radio-frequency pulse followed by detection of the precessing spins at their characteristic frequencies. The detected frequencies report on chemical reactions in real time and the signal amplitudes scale with concentrations of products and reactants. Here, we employ Radiofrequency Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (RASER), a quantum phenomenon producing coherent emission of 13 C signals, to detect chemical transformations. The 13 C signals are emitted by the negatively hyperpolarized biomolecules without external radio frequency pulses and without any background signal from other, nonhyperpolarized spins in the ensemble. Here, we studied the hydrolysis of hyperpolarized ethyl-[1- 13 C]acetate to hyperpolarized [1- 13 C]acetate, which was analyzed as a model system by conventional NMR and 13 C RASER. The chemical transformation of 13 C RASER-active species leads to complete and abrupt disappearance of reactant signals and delayed, abrupt reappearance of a frequency-shifted RASER signal without destroying 13 C polarization. Further, the experimentally observed “quantum” RASER threshold is supported by simulations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Biomolecular complex viewed by dynamic nuclear polarization solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) is an indispensable tool for elucidating the structure and dynamics of insoluble and non-crystalline biomolecules. The recent advances in the sensitivity-enhancing technique magic-angle spinning dynamic nuclear polarization (MAS-DNP) have substantially expanded the territory of ssNMR investigations and enabled the detection of polymer interfaces in a cellular environment. This article highlights the emerging MAS-DNP approaches and their applications to the analysis of biomolecular composites and intact cells to determine the folding pathway and ligand binding of proteins, the structural polymorphism of low-populated biopolymers, as well as the physical interactions between carbohydrates, proteins, and lignin. Furthermore, these structural features provide an atomic-level understanding of many cellular processes, promoting the development of better biomaterials and inhibitors. It is anticipated that the capabilities of MAS-DNP in biomolecular and biomaterial research will be further enlarged by the rapid development of instrumentation and methodology.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗