Pulsed low-field electrically detected magnetic resonance

Abstract

We present pulsed electrically detected magnetic resonance (EDMR) measurements at low magnetic fields using phosphorus-doped silicon with natural isotope composition as a model system. Our measurements show that pulsed EDMR experiments, well established at $X\ensuremath{-}\text{band}$ frequencies (10 GHz), such as coherent spin rotations, Hahn echoes, and measurements of parallel and antiparallel spin pair life times are also feasible at frequencies in the megahertz (MHz) regime. We find that the Rabi frequency of the coupled $^{31}\mathrm{P}$ electron-nuclear spin system scales with the magnetic field as predicted by the spin Hamiltonian, while the measured spin coherence and recombination times do not strongly depend on the magnetic field in the region investigated. The usefulness of pulsed low-field EDMR for measurements of small hyperfine interactions is demonstrated by electron spin echo envelope modulation measurements of the ${\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{b}0}$ dangling-bond state at the $\mathrm{Si}/{\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ interface. A pronounced modulation with a frequency at the free Larmor frequency of hydrogen nuclei was observed for radio frequencies between 38 and 400 MHz, attributed to the nuclear magnetic resonance of hydrogen in an adsorbed layer of water. This demonstrates the high sensitivity of low-field EDMR also for spins not directly participating in the spin-dependent transport investigated.