Eur. Phys. J. D (2013) 67: 127
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2013-30689-1

Regular Article

Spin coherent states in NMR quadrupolar system: experimental and theoretical applications

¹ Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 369, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
² Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Caixa Postal 593, 38400-902 Uberlândia, MG, Brazil

^a Present address: Embrapa Solos, Rio de Janeiro 22460-000, RJ, Brazil. e-mail: rauccais@cbpf.br
^b Present address: Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.

Received: 14 November 2012
Received in final form: 31 March 2013
Published online: 27 June 2013

Abstract

Working with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in quadrupolar spin systems, in this paper we transfer the concept of atomic coherent state to the nuclear spin context, where it is referred to as pseudo-nuclear spin coherent state (pseudo-NSCS). Experimentally, we discuss the initialization of the pseudo-NSCSs and also their quantum control, implemented by polar and azimuthal rotations. Theoretically, we compute the geometric phases acquired by an initial pseudo-NSCS on undergoing three distinct cyclic evolutions: (i) the free evolution of the NMR quadrupolar system and, by analogy with the evolution of the NMR quadrupolar system, that of (ii) single-mode and (iii) two-mode Bose-Einstein Condensate like system. By means of these analogies, we derive, through spin angular momentum operators, results equivalent to those presented in the literature for orbital angular momentum operators. The pseudo-NSCS description is a starting point to introduce the spin squeezed state and quantum metrology into nuclear spin systems of liquid crystal or solid matter.