Coupling a Spin Qubit in Diamond to the Motion of a Macroscopic Mechanical Cantilever

Nano electro-mechanical systems (NEMS) can be used as quantum transducers for electronic spin qubits, where spins are coupled to the motion of magnetized mechanical resonators via magnetic field gradients [1]. Provided that the mechanical system is charged, the magnetic moments associated with spin qubits can be effectively amplified to enable a coherent spin-spin coupling over long distances via Coulomb forces. We describe experimental progress to achieve strong coupling between the spin state of a Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) Center in diamond with the motional state of a magnetized mechanical resonator. \\[4pt] [1] Rabl, \textit{et al., }``A quantum spin transducer based on nano electro-mechanical resonator arrays,'' submitted to \textit{Nature Physics }(2009). Pre-print available: arXiv:0908.0316