arXiv subjects

Ruotian Gong

Publications and source records attributed to Ruotian Gong.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Quantum sensing with a spin ensemble in a two-dimensional material

Quantum sensing with solid-state spin defects has transformed nanoscale metrology, offering sub-wavelength spatial resolution with exceptional sensitivity to multiple signal types. Maximizing these advantages requires minimizing both the sensor-target separation and the detectable signal threshold. However, leading platforms such as nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond suffer from performance degradation near surfaces or in nanoscale volumes, motivating the search for optically addressable spin sensors in atomically thin, two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals materials. Here, we present a comprehensive experimental framework to probe a 2D spin ensemble, including its Hamiltonian, coherent sensing dynamics, and noise environment. Using a central spin system in a hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) crystal, we fully map the hyperfine interactions with proximal nuclear spins, demonstrate switchable magnetic and electric noise sensing, and introduce a method to accurately reconstruct the environmental noise spectrum while explicitly accounting for quantum control imperfections. We achieve a record coherence time of $80~μ\mathrm{s}$ under dynamical decoupling, enabling sub-microtesla AC magnetic sensitivity at a $10~\mathrm{nm}$ target distance. Leveraging the broad opportunities for defect engineering in atomically thin hosts, these results lay the foundation for next-generation quantum sensors with ultrahigh sensitivity, tunable noise selectivity, and versatile functionalities.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

A Deep-Learning-Boosted Framework for Quantum Sensing with Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond

Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond are a versatile quantum sensing platform for high sensitivity measurements of magnetic fields, temperature and strain with nanoscale spatial resolution. A common bottleneck is the analysis of optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) spectra, where target quantities are encoded in resonance features. Conventional nonlinear fitting is often computationally expensive, sensitive to initialization, and prone to failure at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Here we introduce a robust, efficient machine learning (ML) framework for real-time ODMR analysis based on a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN). The model performs direct parameter inference without initial guesses or iterative optimization, and is naturally parallelizable on graphics processing units (GPU) for high-throughput processing. We validate the approach on both synthetic and experimental datasets, showing improved throughput, accuracy and robustness than standard nonlinear fitting, with the largest gains in the low-SNR regime. We further validate our methods in two representative sensing applications: diagnosing intracellular temperature changes using nanodiamond probes and widefield magnetic imaging of superconducting vortices in a high-temperature superconductor. This deep-learning inference framework enables fast and reliable extraction of physical parameters from complex ODMR data and provides a scalable route to real-time quantum sensing and imaging.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Probing Boron Vacancy Defects in hBN via Single Spin Relaxometry

Spin defects in solids offer promising platforms for quantum sensing and memory due to their long coherence times and optical addressability. Here, we integrate a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond with scanning probe microscopy to discover, read out, and spatially map arbitrary spin-based quantum sensors at the nanoscale. Using the boron vacancy ($\mathrm{V}_\mathrm{B}^-$) center in hexagonal boron nitride$\unicode{x2013}$an emerging two-dimensional spin system$\unicode{x2013}$as a model, we detect its electron spin resonance indirectly via changes in the spin relaxation time ($T_1$) of a nearby NV center, eliminating the need for optical excitation or fluorescence detection of the $\mathrm{V}_\mathrm{B}^-$. Cross-relaxation between NV and $\mathrm{V}_\mathrm{B}^-$ ensembles significantly reduces NV $T_1$, enabling quantitative nanoscale mapping of defect densities beyond the optical diffraction limit and clear resolution of hyperfine splitting in isotopically enriched h$^{10}$B$^{15}$N. Our method demonstrates interactions between 3D and 2D spin sensors, establishing NV centers as versatile probes for characterizing otherwise inaccessible spin defects.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Spin Relaxometry with Solid-State Defects: Theory, Platforms, and Applications

Spin relaxometry using solid-state spin defects, such as the diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center, probes dynamical processes by measuring how environmental fluctuations enhance the spin relaxation rate. In the weak-coupling limit, relaxation rates sample the transverse magnetic-noise power spectral density through a sensor-specific filter function, turning the defect into a local, frequency-selective noise spectrometer. This review bridges theory and experiment, clarifying how measured relaxation rates map onto noise spectra and how near-field geometry shapes the response. We highlight representative applications across condensed-matter physics, chemical and biological sensing, and relaxometry-based magnetic-resonance spectroscopy. We conclude with emerging opportunities and key challenges.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Quantum noise spectroscopy of superconducting dynamics in thin film Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$

Characterizing the low-energy dynamics of quantum materials is crucial to our understanding of strongly correlated electronic states. Yet, it remains experimentally challenging to investigate such dynamics with high spectroscopic resolution in both frequency and momentum space, particularly in two-dimensional correlated systems. Here, we leverage Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers in diamond as a powerful and non-invasive tool to study thin-film Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$ (BSCCO), revealing several distinct dynamical phenomena across the superconducting phase diagram. At zero magnetic field and low temperatures, NV depolarization ($T_1$) noise spectroscopy captures the low-frequency (GHz-scale) magnetic noise generated by nodal superconducting quasiparticle excitations, in agreement with Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) mean-field theory. Near the critical temperature $T_c \approx 90$ K, supercurrent-fluctuation-induced noise leads to a sharp reduction of the NV $T_1$. By carefully analyzing the temperature-scaling of $T_1$, we observe clear deviations from the BCS prediction, reflecting the importance of order parameter fluctuations and enabling the determination of both static and dynamical critical exponents. When a small field is applied, we detect a broad and asymmetric reduction of NV $T_1$ near $T_c$; the field-induced smearing of the transition unveils the presence of a vortex liquid phase. Finally, NV decoherence ($T_2$) noise spectroscopy allows us to characterize magnetic noise at even lower MHz-scale frequencies and obtain evidence for complex vortex-solid fluctuations well below $T_c$. Our results establish quantum noise spectroscopy as a versatile platform for probing dynamical phenomena in superconductors, with frequency and length scales complementary to existing techniques.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Probing Stress and Magnetism at High Pressures with Two-Dimensional Quantum Sensors

Pressure serves as a fundamental tuning parameter capable of drastically modifying all properties of matter. The advent of diamond anvil cells (DACs) has enabled a compact and tabletop platform for generating extreme pressure conditions in laboratory settings. However, the limited spatial dimensions and ultrahigh pressures within these environments present significant challenges for conventional spectroscopy techniques. In this work, we integrate optical spin defects within a thin layer of two-dimensional (2D) materials directly into the high-pressure chamber, enabling an in situ quantum sensing platform for mapping local stress and magnetic environments up to 4~GPa. Compared to nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers embedded in diamond anvils, our 2D sensors exhibit around three times stronger response to local stress and provide nanoscale proximity to the target sample in heterogeneous devices. We showcase the versatility of our approach by imaging both stress gradients within the high-pressure chamber and a pressure-driven magnetic phase transition in a room-temperature self-intercalated van der Waals ferromagnet, Cr$_{1+δ}$Te$_2$. Our work demonstrates an integrated quantum sensing device for high-pressure experiments, offering potential applications in probing pressure-induced phenomena such as superconductivity, magnetism, and mechanical deformation.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Temperature dependent spin-phonon coupling of boron-vacancy centers in hexagonal boron nitride

The negatively charged boron-vacancy center ($\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$) in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has recently emerged as a highly promising quantum sensor. Compared to the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond, the change with temperature of the spin transition energy of $\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$ is more than an order of magnitude larger, making it a potential nanoscale thermometer with superior sensitivity. However, the underlying mechanism of the observed large temperature dependence remains an open question. In this work, using isotopically purified $\mathrm{h}{}^{10}\mathrm{B}{}^{15}\mathrm{N}$, we systematically characterize the zero-field splitting, hyperfine interaction, and spin relaxation time of $\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$ from 10 to 350$~$K. We carry out first-principle calculations of the $\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$ spin-phonon interaction and show that a second-order effect from finite-temperature phonon excitations is responsible for the observed changes in experiments. By fitting our experimental results to a physically motivated model, we extract the dominant phonon mode which agrees well with our simulations. Finally, we investigate the dynamic nuclear spin polarization process at cryogenic temperatures. Our results provide key insights in $\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$ centers and their utilization as nanoscale thermometers and phonon sensors.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Intrinsic high-fidelity spin polarization of charged vacancies in hexagonal boron nitride

The negatively charged boron vacancy ($\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$) in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has garnered significant attention among defects in two-dimensional materials. This owes, in part, to its deterministic generation, well-characterized atomic structure, and optical polarizability at room temperature. We investigate the latter through extensive measurements probing both the ground and excited state polarization dynamics. We develop a semiclassical model based on these measurements that predicts a near-unity degree of spin polarization, surpassing other solid-state spin defects under ambient conditions. Building upon our model, we include the presence of nuclear spin degrees of freedom adjacent to the $\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$ and perform a comprehensive set of Lindbladian numerics to investigate the hyperfine-induced polarization of the nuclear spins. Our simulations predict a number of important features that emerge as a function of magnetic field which are borne out by experiment.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Experimental Realization of Discrete Time Quasi-Crystals

Floquet (periodically driven) systems can give rise to unique non-equilibrium phases of matter without equilibrium analogs. The most prominent example is the realization of discrete time crystals. An intriguing question emerges: what other novel phases can manifest when the constraint of time periodicity is relaxed? In this study, we explore quantum systems subjected to a quasi-periodic drive. Leveraging a strongly interacting spin ensemble in diamond, we identify the emergence of long-lived discrete time quasi-crystals. Unlike conventional time crystals, time quasi-crystals exhibit robust sub-harmonic responses at multiple incommensurate frequencies. Furthermore, we show that the multi-frequency nature of the quasi-periodic drive allows for the formation of diverse patterns associated with different discrete time quasi-crystalline phases. Our findings demonstrate the existence of non-equilibrium phases in quasi-Floquet settings, significantly broadening the catalog of novel phenomena in driven many-body quantum systems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Isotope engineering for spin defects in van der Waals materials

Spin defects in van der Waals materials offer a promising platform for advancing quantum technologies. Here, we propose and demonstrate a powerful technique based on isotope engineering of host materials to significantly enhance the coherence properties of embedded spin defects. Focusing on the recently-discovered negatively charged boron vacancy center ($\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$) in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), we grow isotopically purified $\mathrm{h}{}^{10}\mathrm{B}{}^{15}\mathrm{N}$ crystals. Compared to $\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$ in hBN with the natural distribution of isotopes, we observe substantially narrower and less crowded $\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$ spin transitions as well as extended coherence time $T_2$ and relaxation time $T_1$. For quantum sensing, $\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$ centers in our $\mathrm{h}{}^{10}\mathrm{B}{}^{15}\mathrm{N}$ samples exhibit a factor of $4$ ($2$) enhancement in DC (AC) magnetic field sensitivity. For additional quantum resources, the individual addressability of the $\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$ hyperfine levels enables the dynamical polarization and coherent control of the three nearest-neighbor ${}^{15}\mathrm{N}$ nuclear spins. Our results demonstrate the power of isotope engineering for enhancing the properties of quantum spin defects in hBN, and can be readily extended to improving spin qubits in a broad family of van der Waals materials.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Quasi-Floquet prethermalization in a disordered dipolar spin ensemble in diamond

Floquet (periodic) driving has recently emerged as a powerful technique for engineering quantum systems and realizing non-equilibrium phases of matter. A central challenge to stabilizing quantum phenomena in such systems is the need to prevent energy absorption from the driving field. Fortunately, when the frequency of the drive is significantly larger than the local energy scales of the many-body system, energy absorption is suppressed. The existence of this so-called prethermal regime depends sensitively on the range of interactions and the presence of multiple driving frequencies. Here, we report the observation of Floquet prethermalization in a strongly interacting dipolar spin ensemble in diamond, where the angular dependence of the dipolar coupling helps to mitigate the long-ranged nature of the interaction. Moreover, we extend our experimental observation to quasi-Floquet drives with multiple incommensurate frequencies. In contrast to a single-frequency drive, we find that the existence of prethermalization is extremely sensitive to the smoothness of the applied field. Our results open the door to stabilizing and characterizing non-equilibrium phenomena in quasi-periodically driven systems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Coherent dynamics of strongly interacting electronic spin defects in hexagonal boron nitride

Optically active spin defects in van der Waals materials are promising platforms for modern quantum technologies. Here we investigate the coherent dynamics of strongly interacting ensembles of negatively charged boron-vacancy ($\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$) centers in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) with varying defect density. By employing advanced dynamical decoupling sequences to selectively isolate different dephasing sources, we observe more than 5-fold improvement in the measured coherence times across all hBN samples. Crucially, we identify that the many-body interaction within the $\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$ ensemble plays a substantial role in the coherent dynamics, which is then used to directly estimate the concentration of $\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$. We find that at high ion implantation dosage, only a small portion of the created boron vacancy defects are in the desired negatively charged state. Finally, we investigate the spin response of $\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$ to the local charged defects induced electric field signals, and estimate its ground state transverse electric field susceptibility. Our results provide new insights on the spin and charge properties of $\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{B}}^-$, which are important for future use of defects in hBN as quantum sensors and simulators.

quant-ph↗