Single-Spin Magnetomechanics with Levitated Micromagnets

Abstract

We demonstrate a new mechanical transduction platform for individual spin qubits. In our approach, single micromagnets are trapped using a type-II superconductor in proximity of spin qubits, enabling direct magnetic coupling between the two systems. Controlling the distance between the magnet and the superconductor during cooldown, we demonstrate three-dimensional trapping with quality factors around 1×106 and kHz trapping frequencies. We further exploit the large magnetic moment to mass ratio of this mechanical oscillator to couple its motion to the spin degrees of freedom of an individual nitrogen vacancy center in diamond. Our approach provides a new path towards interfacing individual spin qubits with mechanical motion for testing quantum mechanics with mesoscopic objects, realization of quantum networks, and ultrasensitive metrology.