Method and apparatus for polarizing nuclear spins and storage medium storing program therefor

A non-transitory storage medium storing a program for polarizing nuclear spins, the program causing a computer to execute a process comprising:

• a static magnetic field application process to apply a static magnetic field to NV centers;
• a first microwave irradiation process to irradiate the NV centers with a microwave having a first microwave wavelength to transition energy levels ms of electron spins of the NV centers of which energy levels ml of nuclear spins are one of ml=1 or −1 from ms=0 to ms=−1;
• and
• a second microwave irradiation process to irradiate the NV centers with a microwave having a second microwave wavelength different from the first microwave wavelength to transition the energy levels ms of electron spins of the NV centers of which the energy levels ml of the nuclear spins are the other of ml=1 or −1 from ms=0 to ms=−1 when a microwave irradiation waiting period determined depending on the period of state mixing of polarization of the nuclear spins has elapsed since execution of the first microwave irradiation process.

An apparatus for polarizing nuclear spins, comprising:

• a diamond with NV centers formed;
• a static magnetic field application device configured to apply a static magnetic field to the NV centers;
• a wave irradiation device configured to irradiate the NV centers with radio waves;
• and
• a controller configured to control the static magnetic field application device and the wave irradiation device,
• the controller being configured to execute
• a static magnetic field application process for the static magnetic field application device to apply the static magnetic field to the NV centers;
• a first microwave irradiation process for the wave irradiation device to irradiate the NV centers with a microwave having a first microwave wavelength to transition energy levels ms of electron spins of the NV centers of which energy levels ml of nuclear spins are one of ml=1 or −1 from ms=0 to ms=−1;
• and
• a second microwave irradiation process for the wave irradiation device to irradiate the NV centers with a microwave having a second microwave wavelength different from the first microwave wavelength to transition the energy levels ms of electron spins of the NV centers of which the energy levels ml of the nuclear spins are the other of ml=1 or −1 from ms=0 to ms=−1 when a microwave irradiation waiting period determined depending on the period of state mixing of polarization of the nuclear spins has elapsed since execution of the first microwave irradiation process.