Diamond 13C Hyperpolarisation via Long-Range Dipolar Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for hyperpolarizing 13C nuclear spins in diamonds are limited in achieving high polarization degrees and are not suitable for long-range interactions, which restricts their application in magnetic resonance applications and imaging agents.
Innovation Solution
A method involving optical pumping of colour centre electron spins in diamonds followed by a dynamic nuclear polarization protocol to transfer polarization to 13C nuclear spins via long-range interactions, such as coherent dipolar interactions, allowing for higher polarization degrees and broader applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If short-lived colour centre spin states are used for polarisation transfer, then the polarisation can be transferred quickly, but the interaction range is limited to short distances and cannot reach nuclei far away
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the colour centre spin state from short-lived to long-lived. Specifically, it uses ground state or metastable triplet states with coherence times exceeding microseconds, which enables the dipolar interaction to effectively reach nuclear spins at distances greater than 5 nm while maintaining sufficient coupling strength for polarisation transfer
2Productivity
If short-range contact interaction is used for polarisation transfer, then the transfer efficiency is high, but the polarisation cannot diffuse to nuclei further away
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a long-lived colour centre spin state as an intermediary that mediates the polarisation transfer from electrons to distant nuclear spins. This intermediary maintains quantum coherence over extended periods, allowing the dipolar interaction to bridge the gap between the colour centre and nuclear spins at distances greater than 5 nm, thus extending the effective range while maintaining transfer efficiency
3Device complexity
If very short coherence time of colour centres is used, then the system is simple, but the polarisation cannot be transferred via long-range interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the coherence time parameter of the colour centre from very short (nanosecond scale) to long-lived (microsecond scale or longer). This is achieved by selecting specific colour centres with ground state or metastable triplet states that possess inherently long coherence times, thereby enabling long-range dipolar interactions without introducing additional system complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method achieves higher and faster hyperpolarization of 13C nuclear spins in diamonds, enabling improved magnetic resonance imaging, medical imaging, and quantum information processing with enhanced signal density and coherence times.
Implementation Method 1
The electron spin of a colour centre in a diamond can be optically polarised
Implementation Method 2
The polarisation is transferred to 13C nuclear spins via dipolar long-range interaction
Implementation Method 3
by applying electromagnetic fields analogous to the Hartmann-Hahn matching condition
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention concerns a method for the hyperpolarisation of 13C nuclear spin in a diamond, comprising an optical pumping step, in which colour centre electron spins in the diamond are optically pumped. The method further comprises a transfer step in which the polarisation of a long-lived state of the colour centre electron spins is transferred to 13C nuclear spins in the diamond via a long-range interaction.