Hyperfine spectroscopy in a quantum-limited spectrometer

We report measurements of electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) performed at millikelvin temperatures in a custom-built high-sensitivity spectrometer based on superconducting micro-resonators. The high quality factor and small mode volume (down to 0.2pL) of the resonator allow to probe a small number of spins, down to $5\cdot 10^2$. We measure 2-pulse ESEEM on two systems: erbium ions coupled to $^{183}$W nuclei in a natural-abundance $\text{CaWO}_4$ crystal, and bismuth donors coupled to residual $^{29}$Si nuclei in a silicon substrate that was isotopically enriched in the $^{28}$Si isotope. We also measure 3- and 5-pulse ESEEM for the bismuth donors in silicon. Quantitative agreement is obtained for both the hyperfine coupling strength of proximal nuclei, and the nuclear spin concentration.
Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures