Technique - (36) Hahn echo / dynamical decoupling

Type: Experimental

Description: Spin-echo pulse sequences (Hahn, CPMG, XY-8) for coherence extension and AC field sensing.

Department(s)/lab(s): Quantum Nanoscience | Van der Sar Lab @ TU Delft
Summary:

Toeno van der Sar's group uses NV-centre diamond magnetometry to study correlated spin dynamics and electric currents in magnetic and 2D materials. Research directions: (1) scanning NV magnetometry of topological magnets, 2D magnetic materials (CrI3, Fe3GeTe2), and superconductors; (2) spin-wave (magnon) spectroscopy in magnetic thin films using NV sensors; (3) widefield NV imaging of biological samples and materials. The group develops both NV scanning probes and widefield NV ensembles for nanoscale spatial mapping of magnetic phenomena.

Department(s)/lab(s): Institute of Physical Chemistry | van Slageren Group - Molecular Quantum Spintronics @ Stuttgart
Summary:

van Slageren's group is one of the leading molecular-qubit labs. They synthesize their own paramagnetic molecules, characterize them with a wide spectroscopic and magnetometric arsenal (multi-frequency and high-field EPR, pulsed EPR/DEER, THz spectroscopy, SQUID magnetometry) and back it with ab-initio calculation. Landmarks include room-temperature quantum coherence in a copper(II) molecular qubit, quantitative prediction of nuclear-spin-diffusion-limited coherence times, measurement of coherence in thin films without post-processing, and recent observation of a sizeable spin-electric effect -- electric-field control of a molecular spin state, which is the mechanism you would exploit for a molecular electrometer. Current direction: molecular quantum spintronics, marrying organic spintronics to molecular magnetism. Relative to the established NV-ensemble quantum-sensing playbook (DEER, nanoscale NMR, T1 relaxometry at pT/sqrt(Hz) ensemble sensitivity), this is the molecular alternative to the diamond defect: chemically tunable spin qubits whose coherence can be engineered by ligand design rather than by host-crystal purification. Immediate neighbours are Krueger (nanodiamond chemistry) and Wrachtrup (NV readout), both already on file -- an unusually complete local ecosystem.

Department(s)/lab(s): School of Physics | Quantum Control Laboratory @ USyd
Summary:

Wolf works on trapped-ion quantum sensing, using the motional degrees of freedom of single ions and small crystals as transducers for weak electric fields and forces, together with non-classical motional states (squeezed and Fock states) to enhance the achievable sensitivity. The broader agenda is to use trapped ions as a testbed for fundamental measurement limits — quantum-enhanced amplification of small displacements, quantum non-demolition readout of motion — with an eye to applications in electric-field metrology and searches for new physics. Positioned against the established body of NV-ensemble quantum sensing work — DEER, nanoscale NMR and T1 relaxometry protocols operating at pT/sqrt(Hz) field sensitivity — trapped-ion motional sensing is the cleanest available platform for demonstrating the entanglement-enhanced scaling that NV ensembles at pT/sqrt(Hz) approach only in the shot-noise-limited regime. Early-career independent PI within the Quantum Control Laboratory; smaller group, higher autonomy.

Department(s)/lab(s): School of Physics | Wood Diamond Magnetometry Group @ UMelb
Summary:

Wood works on NV centres in physically rotating diamond, a niche he essentially created: by spinning the crystal at tens of kHz he has demonstrated spin-rotation coupling, geometric phases and rotationally-induced pseudo-fields on NV ensembles, and used the rotating frame as a resource for noise-averaging and for gyroscopy. The group also works on conventional bulk NV magnetometry, dynamical decoupling sequence design and nuclear-spin bath engineering. Positioned against the established body of NV-ensemble quantum sensing work — DEER, nanoscale NMR and T1 relaxometry protocols operating at pT/sqrt(Hz) field sensitivity — his rotating-frame protocols are a direct attempt to extend the DEER/T1-relaxometry toolbox — normally applied to static ensembles at pT/sqrt(Hz) — into a regime where the sensor itself is in motion, with obvious relevance to inertial sensing and to averaging away static field gradients. Early-career PI, smaller group; a good option for a candidate wanting substantial independence.

Department(s)/lab(s): School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications | Yang Silicon Qubit Systems Group @ UNSW
Summary:

Yang works on the systems-level physics of silicon spin qubits: operating qubits at elevated temperatures (above one kelvin, where cryo-CMOS control electronics can be co-integrated), valley and spin-orbit engineering, and the electrical control of spin qubits without micromagnets. The 'hot qubit' programme in particular is an engineering argument about where the classical/quantum boundary should sit in a real machine. Positioned against the established body of NV-ensemble quantum sensing work — DEER, nanoscale NMR and T1 relaxometry protocols operating at pT/sqrt(Hz) field sensitivity — raising the operating temperature of a spin sensor while preserving coherence is the same trade a pT/sqrt(Hz) NV ensemble makes implicitly by working at room temperature; Yang's work is the silicon community's attempt to buy back some of that convenience. Borderline inclusion — this is quantum computing rather than sensing — retained under the inclusive rubric.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics | Yao Group @ Harvard
Summary:

Yao works at the interface of theoretical and experimental many-body physics and quantum sensing, using dense NV-diamond spin ensembles and Hamiltonian engineering to push magnetometry and nanoscale NMR beyond standard-quantum-limit sensitivities. His work is a direct extension of the original NV ensemble quantum sensing experiments (DEER, nanoscale NMR, T1 relaxometry) that achieved pT/√Hz sensitivity, adding many-body-enhanced protocols and error-correction-assisted sensing on top of that foundation.