Nanomechanical Sensing Using Spins in Diamond.
Nanomechanical sensors and quantum nanosensors are two rapidly developing technologies that have diverse interdisciplinary applications in biological and chemical analysis and microscopy. For example, nanomechanical sensors based upon nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) have demonstrated chip-scale mass spectrometry capable of detecting single macromolecules, such as proteins. Quantum nanosensors based upon electron spins of negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond have demonstrated diverse modes of nanometrology, including single molecule magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Here, we report the first step toward combining these two complementary technologies in the form of diamond nanomechanical structures containing NV centers. We establish the principles for nanomechanical sensing using such nanospin-mechanical sensors (NSMS) and assess their potential for mass spectrometry and force microscopy. We predict that NSMS are able to provide unprecedented AC force images of cellular biomechanics and to not only detect the mass of a single macromolecule but also image its distribution. When combined with the other nanometrology modes of the NV center, NSMS potentially offer unparalleled analytical power at the nanoscale.
Laser Physics Centre, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University , Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
Michael S J
MS
Barson
Institut für Quantenoptik, Universität Ulm , D-89081 Ulm, Germany.
Phani
P
Peddibhotla
Department of Physics, University of California Santa Barbara , Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States.
Preeti
P
Ovartchaiyapong
School of Physics, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Kumaravelu
K
Ganesan
Laser Physics Centre, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University , Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
Richard L
RL
Taylor
Laser Physics Centre, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University , Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
Matthew
M
Gebert
Laser Physics Centre, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University , Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
Zoe
Z
Mielens
Institut für Festkörperphysik, Universität Ulm , D-89081 Ulm, Germany.
Berndt
B
Koslowski
School of Physics, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
David A
DA
Simpson
Institut für Quantenoptik, Universität Ulm , D-89081 Ulm, Germany.|School of Physics, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Liam P
LP
McGuinness
School of Physics, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Jeffrey
J
McCallum
School of Physics, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Steven
S
Prawer
National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST) , 1233 Watanuki, Takasaki, Gunma 370-1292, Japan.
Shinobu
S
Onoda
National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST) , 1233 Watanuki, Takasaki, Gunma 370-1292, Japan.
Takeshi
T
Ohshima
Department of Physics, University of California Santa Barbara , Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States.
Ania C
AC
Bleszynski Jayich
Institut für Quantenoptik, Universität Ulm , D-89081 Ulm, Germany.
Fedor
F
Jelezko
Laser Physics Centre, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University , Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
Neil B
NB
Manson
Laser Physics Centre, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University , Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
Marcus W
0000-0002-5473-6481
MW
Doherty
NEMS; Nitrogen-vacancy center; diamond; nanomechancial sensing; spin-mechanical interaction