Electrically controlled spin mechanical coupling in a carbon nanotube resonator

Coupling of a quantum system like a single spin to a mechanical resonator has many interesting applications in classical and quantum information processing, as well as sensing, long-distance spin-spin coupling, and investigating motion at the quantum limit.

We report on the first realization of spin mechanical coupling on a fully suspended carbon nanotube resonator.

Strong spin-orbit interaction allows both the coherent manipulation of a single electron spin and mediates the coupling between the spin and the nanotube motion. We observe both resonant and off-resonant coupling, as a shift and broadening of the electron dipole spin-resonance (EDSR)-frequency, respectively.

We develop a complete theoretical model that matches the experimental data and provides a detailed understanding of the complex mechanisms at play. Our results demonstrate the potential of hybrid semiconductor circuits for applications requiring both mechanical and electric degrees of freedom on chip.