Spin Physics

Our group studies spin physics at nanoscale spatial resolution. While the sensitivity of conventional nuclear magnetic resonance techniques are limited to macroscopic samples the groups’ expertise lies on the development of instrumentation capable of achieving ultrahigh sensitivity (down to single electron spins) and ultrahigh spatial resolution (< 10 nm). This is made possible by the use of nitrogen-vacancy centers, which can be placed on the tip of a scanning probe microscope. This idea, originally proposed by the group head, is currently pursued at different laboratories worldwide. Highest-resolution 3D magnetic resonance imaging is, however, not limited to solid state systems but also opens interdisciplinary research directions ranging from materials science to structural biology.