Interview for Faculty Position

Spin decoherence at high magnetic fields

Susumu Takahashi

University of California, Santa Barbara

Spin decoherence is the process by which spins interact with their surrounding environments. In quantum science, spin decoherence is often considered an unbidden guest in the spin system that destroys quantum information. In this talk, I will show that spin decoherence is a useful tool to probe physical and chemical environments. In particular, investigation at high magnetic fields provides information on a nanometer scale with extraordinary sensitivity. I will discuss our recent demonstrations of quenching spin decoherence in nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond and S=10 Fe8 single-molecule magnets, as well as introduce a new method for distance measurements based on measurement of spin decoherence time (T2). In addition, I will present the development of the first ever free-electron laser (FEL)-based pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer that promises to provide unprecedented nanosecond time resolution.