Measuring high field gradients of cobalt nanomagnets in a spin-mechanical setup

Abstract

Hybrid systems composed of a single nitrogen-vacancy center spin magnetically coupled to a macroscopic mechanical resonator constitute promising platforms for the realization of quantum information protocols and for quantum sensing applications. The magnetic structure that mediates the interaction must ensure high field gradients while preserving the spin and mechanical properties. We present a spin-mechanical setup built around a cobalt nanomagnet grown with focused electron beam-induced deposition. The magnetic structure is fully characterized, and a maximum gradient of 170 kT m-1 is directly measured at a spin-oscillator distance of a few hundred nanometers. Spin coherence was preserved at the value of 20μs up to a gradient of 25 kT m-1. The effect of the mechanical motion on the spin dynamics was observed, thus signifying the presence of spin-mechanics coupling. Given the noninvasive nature of the nanomagnet deposition process, we foresee the adoption of such structures in hybrid platforms with high-quality factor resonators, in the “magnet on oscillator” configuration.