We report on measurements of the spin lifetime of nuclear spins strongly coupled to a micromechanical cantilever as used in magnetic resonance force microscopy. We find that the rotating-frame correlation time of the statistical nuclear polarization is set by the magneto-mechanical noise originating from the thermal motion of the cantilever. Evidence is based on the effect of three parameters: (1) the magnetic field gradient (the coupling strength), (2) the Rabi frequency of the spins (the transition energy), and (3) the temperature of the low-frequency mechanical modes. Experimental results are compared to relaxation rates calculated from the spectral density of the magneto-mechanical noise.
@article{arxiv.0712.3792,
title = {Nuclear spin relaxation induced by a mechanical resonator},
author = {C. L. Degen and M. Poggio and H. J. Mamin and D. Rugar},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0712.3792},
year = {2008}
}