PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Diamond 'flaws' pave way for nanoscale MRI

2013-11-25
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Dr. Mete Atature
ma424@cam.ac.uk
44-787-499-6463
University of Cambridge
Diamond 'flaws' pave way for nanoscale MRI

By exploiting flaws in miniscule diamond fragments, researchers say they have achieved enough coherence of the magnetic moment inherent in these defects to harness their potential for precise quantum sensors in a material that is 'biocompatible'.

Nanoscopic thermal and magnetic field detectors - which can be inserted into living cells - could enhance our understanding of everything from chemical reactions within single cells to signalling in neural networks and the origin of magnetism in novel materials.

Atomic impurities in natural diamond structure give rise to the colour seen in rare and coveted pink, blue and yellow diamond. But these impurities are also a major research focus in emerging areas of quantum physics.

One such defect, the Nitrogen-vacancy Centre (NVC), consists of a gap in the crystal lattice next to a nitrogen atom. This system tightly traps electrons whose spin states can be manipulated with extreme precision.

Electron coherence - the extent to which the spins of these particles can sustain their quantum mechanical properties - has been achieved to high levels in the NVCs of large 'bulk' diamonds, with coherence times of an entire second in certain conditions - the longest yet seen in any solid material.

However in nanodiamonds - nanometer sized crystals that can be produced by milling conventional diamond - any acceptable degree of coherence has, until now, proved elusive.

Nanodiamonds offer the potential for both extraordinarily precise resolution, as they can be positioned at the nano-scale, and biocompatibility - as they have can be inserted into living cells. But without high levels of coherence in their NVCs to carry information, these unique nanodiamond benefits cannot be utilised.

By observing the spin dynamics in nanodiamond NVCs, researchers at Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory, have now identified that it is the concentration of nitrogen impurities that impacts coherence rather than interactions with spins on the crystal surface.

By controlling the dynamics of these nitrogen impurities separately, they have increased NVC coherence times to a record 0.07 milliseconds longer than any previous report, an order of significant magnitude - putting nanodiamonds back in play as an extremely promising material for quantum sensing.

The results are published today in the journal Nature Materials.

"Our results unleash the potential of the smallest magnetic field and temperature detector in the world. Nanodiamond NVCs can sense the change of such features within a few tens of nanometres - no other sensor has ever had this spatial resolution under ambient conditions," said Helena Knowles, a researcher on the study.

"We now have both high spin coherence and spatial resolution, crucial for various quantum technologies."

Dr Dhiren Kara, who also worked on the study, points out that the nanodiamond's biocompatibility can provide non-invasive optical access to magnetic changes within a living cell - essentially the ability to perform MRI and detect, for instance, a cell's reaction to a drug in real time.

"We may also be able to answer some key questions in material science, such as magnetic ordering at the edges of graphene or the origin of magnetism in oxide materials," Kara said.

Dr Mete Atature, director of the research, added: "The pursuit of simultaneous high NVC coherence and high spatial resolution, and the fact that nanodiamonds couldn't deliver on this promise until now, has required researchers to invest in alternative means including advanced nanofabrication techniques, which tends to be both expensive and low-yield."

"The simplest solution - feasible and inexpensive - was in front of us the whole time."



INFORMATION:



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

NIST demonstrates how losing information can benefit quantum computing

2013-11-25
NIST demonstrates how losing information can benefit quantum computing BOULDER, Colo -- Suggesting that quantum computers might benefit from losing some data, physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have entangled—linked ...

How living cells solved a needle in a haystack problem to produce electrical signals

2013-11-25
How living cells solved a needle in a haystack problem to produce electrical signals Filtered from a vast sodium sea, more than 1 million calcium ions per second gush through our cells' pores to generate charges Scientists have figured out how calcium channels – the infinitesimal ...

New genomic study provides a glimpse of how whales could adapt to ocean

2013-11-25
New genomic study provides a glimpse of how whales could adapt to ocean The latest study was published online in Nature Genetics November 24, 2013, Shenzhen, China - In a paper published in Nature Genetics, researchers from Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Korea Genome Research ...

Scientists prove X-ray laser can solve protein structures from scratch

2013-11-25
Scientists prove X-ray laser can solve protein structures from scratch SLAC's linac coherent light source reaches key milestone in decoding biological structures that were out of reach A study shows for the first time that X-ray lasers can ...

X-rays reveal another feature of high-temperature superconductivity

2013-11-25
X-rays reveal another feature of high-temperature superconductivity Discovery of a giant resonance puts these materials further apart Classical and high-temperature superconductors differ hugely in the value of the critical temperatures at which ...

UNL scientists develop novel X-ray device

2013-11-25
UNL scientists develop novel X-ray device Research quality X-rays could have widespread applications Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 24 – Using a compact but powerful laser, a research team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has developed a new way to generate ...

Unusual greenhouse gases may have raised ancient Martian temperature

2013-11-25
Unusual greenhouse gases may have raised ancient Martian temperature Much like the Grand Canyon, Nanedi Valles snakes across the Martian surface suggesting that liquid water once crossed the landscape, according to a team of researchers who believe that molecular hydrogen ...

Study identifies protein essential for immune recognition, response to viral infection

2013-11-25
Study identifies protein essential for immune recognition, response to viral infection Mice lacking GEF-H1 protein expression unable to mount immune defense against influenza A Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)-led research team has identified an immune ...

Even if emissions stop, carbon dioxide could warm Earth for centuries

2013-11-25
Even if emissions stop, carbon dioxide could warm Earth for centuries Even if carbon dioxide emissions came to a sudden halt, the carbon dioxide already in Earth's atmosphere could continue to warm our planet for hundreds of years, according to Princeton University-led ...

Scientists find brain region that helps you make up your mind

2013-11-25
Scientists find brain region that helps you make up your mind One of the smallest parts of the brain is getting a second look after new research suggests it plays a crucial role in decision making. A University of British Columbia study published today ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Immunotherapy after surgery shows promise in treating rare, aggressive skin cancer

Immunotherapy after surgery shows potential in preventing the spread of aggressive skin cancer

What is the extent of disparities in cancer clinical trials among low- and middle-income countries?

Invisible poison: Airborne mercury from gold mining is contaminating African food crops, new study warns

Nearly half of Finns with chronic conditions find medication therapy a burden

Do animals fall for optical illusions? What fish and birds can teach us about perception

New guideline emphasizes conversations about mood, mental health between patients and clinicians

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia researchers observe significant reduction in diagnosis of food allergies following expert guidelines encouraging early peanut exposure

ESMO 2025: VT3989 continues to show promising early results in patients with advanced mesothelioma

Study finds COVID-19 mRNA vaccine sparks immune response to fight cancer

ESMO 2025: mRNA-based COVID vaccines generate improved responses to immunotherapy

Drug combo cuts risk of death in advanced prostate cancer by 40%

ADC improves outcomes for patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer who are ineligible for immune checkpoint inhibitors

Novel treatment combination improves progression-free survival in metastatic, estrogen-receptor-positive HER-2-negative breast cancer

ESMO 2025: Trial results show belzutifan shrinks rare neuroendocrine tumors and improves symptoms in patients

ESMO 2025: Dual targeted therapy shows promise in previously treated advanced kidney cancer patients

New generation of Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) shows unprecedented promise in early-stage disease

Sylvester Cancer Tip Sheet for October 2025

Three science and technology leaders elected to Hertz Foundation Board of Directors

Jump Trading CSO Kevin Bowers elected to Hertz Foundation Board of Directors

Former Inscripta CEO Sri Kosaraju elected to Hertz Foundation Board of Directors

Citadel’s Jordan Chetty elected to Hertz Foundation Board of Directors

McGill research flags Montreal snow dump, inactive landfills as major methane polluters

A lightweight and rapid bidirectional search algorithm

Eighty-five years of big tree history available in one place for the first time

MIT invents human brain model with six major cell types to enable personalized disease research, drug discovery

Health and economic air quality co-benefits of stringent climate policies

How immune cells deliver their deadly cargo

How the brain becomes a better listener: How focus enhances sound processing

Processed fats found in margarines unlikely to affect heart health

[Press-News.org] Diamond 'flaws' pave way for nanoscale MRI