Force-detected high-frequency electron spin resonance spectroscopy using magnet-mounted nanomembrane: Robust detection of thermal magnetization modulation

In this study, we report a conceptually novel broadband high-frequency electron spin resonance (HFESR) spectroscopic technique. In contrast to the ordinary force-detected electron spin resonance (ESR) technique, which detects the magnetization change due to the saturation effect, this method measures the magnetization change due to the change of the sample temperature at resonance. To demonstrate its principle, we developed a silicon nitride nanomembrane-based force-detected ESR spectrometer, which can be stably operated even at high magnetic fields. Test measurements were performed for samples with different spin relaxation times. We succeeded in obtaining a seamless ESR spectrum in magnetic fields of 15 T and frequencies of 636 GHz without significant spectral distortion. A high spin sensitivity of 1012 spins/G s was obtained, which was independent of the spin relaxation time. These results show that this technique can be used as a practical method in research fields where the HFESR technique is applicable.