The ability to optically polarize the spin of NV centers in diamond under ambient conditions has long been considered a valuable resource for nuclear spin hyperpolarization and MRI. Unfortunately, the misalignment between the external magnetic field and the NV axis inherent to a powder – the preferred geometry in the above applications – has proven an obstacle difficult to surmount. The work by Ajoy et al. demonstrates efficient 13C polarization in a diamond powder under ambient conditions and in the presence of mild optical and MW excitation, thus paving the route to portable, affordable hyperpolarization platforms of widespread applicability. Click here to gain access to the full Science Advances article.

Dwi is a PhD student woking under the supervision of Prof. Toshu An at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST). His main research interests are diamond NV magnetometry and spin-heat interaction in ferromagnetic materials. He received an Off-campus Research Travel Grant from JAIST for his three-month stay at the Meriles Group. Welcome, Dwi!

Alex is a physicist now working as a postdoc at the group of Prof. Andrew Martin at the University of Melbourne. With a formal training in experimental atomic physics, his work has been more recently broadened to include the dynamics of NV and SiV centers in diamond. He is particularly interested in the interplay between the NV spin and the physical rotation of the host crystal. He will be working with us for about a month and a half. We are really glad to have him here!

The results in this paper show that by judiciously choosing the illumination wavelength and intensity it is possible to control the charge state of SiV centers in diamond, a defect of emerging importance for metrology and quantum information processing applications. Kudos to Siddharth, Pablo, and Jake!

The article “Multispin-assisted optical pumping of bulk ¹³C nuclear spin polarization in diamond”, by D. Pagliero et al. will be an ‘Editor’s suggestion’ in the upcoming volume of Physical Review B. These are papers that the editors and referees find of particular
interest, importance, or clarity. Approximately 5% of all papers published by PRB fall in this category. Congratulations to all authors!

Early this month Henry received the Hamermesh award to the best undergraduate experimentalist in physics. Last year he was named a Levine Rising Junior and more recently he was admitted to the UCLA physics graduate program; he will be moving to LA early this fall. We will miss you, Henry!

Dr. Harishankar Jayakumar is among the CCNY nominees to the regional Blavatnik award for young scientists for his work on the control of trapped charge in diamond. Congratulations Hari!!

The Blavatnik Regional Awards acknowledge and celebrate the excellence of outstanding postdoctoral scientists from institutions in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. More information about the award can be found here.

After working with our group as a CCNY physics undergraduate, Henry has been admitted to graduate school in UCLA. Congratulations Henry! Way to go!

Nabeel Aslam joins us from the pi3 group at the University of Stuttgart where he works under the supervision of Prof. J. Wrachtrup. His work focuses on the physics and applications of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. He will be staying with us during two months. We are happy to have you here, Nabeel!