A quantum spectrum analyzer enhanced by a nuclear spin memory

Abstract

We realize a two-qubit sensor designed for achieving high-spectral resolution in quantum sensing experiments. Our sensor consists of an active “sensing qubit” and a long-lived “memory qubit”, implemented by the electronic and the nitrogen-15 nuclear spins of a nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond, respectively. Using state storage times of up to 45 ms, we demonstrate spectroscopy of external ac signals with a line width of 19 Hz (∼2.9 ppm) and of carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance signals with a line width of 190 Hz (∼74 ppm). This represents an up to 100-fold improvement in spectral resolution compared to measurements without nuclear memory.