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Isotope engineering can enhance spin coherence of solid-state defects, such as NV centers in diamond but progress for defects in hBN has been limited. Gong et al. report the optimization of isotopes in hBN and demonstrate improved coherence and relaxation times for the negatively charged boron vacancy centers.

The detection and coherent control of single ¹³C nuclear spins in hexagonal boron nitride at room temperature enables the use of van der Waals materials in upcoming quantum technologies.

Acoustic metamaterials provide tailored beams for a range of purposes, but are limited to environments where the material structures can be deployed. By careful choice of phases for a speaker array, Zhang et al. show that bottle or bent beams can be created in air, without the use of metamaterials.

Levitated nanodiamonds containing NV centers promise applications in quantum technologies, but they require experiments in high vacuum. Here the authors report on-chip levitation of nanodiamonds in high vacuum using a surface ion trap, showing spin read-out and fast rotation above NV center spin dephasing time.

Unlike electron spins, nuclear spins in van der Waals materials remain a largely untapped quantum resource. Here we report the fast coherent control of nuclear spins and strong electron-mediated nuclear–nuclear spin coupling in hexagonal boron nitride.

A torque sensitivity of (4.2 ± 1.2) × 10⁻²⁷ N m Hz^−1/2 is achieved at room temperature. This sensitivity would be enough to measure vacuum friction.

Microscale resonators cooled so that their vibrational motion approaches the quantum limit enable the study of quantum effects in macroscopic systems. An approach that could probe the interface between quantum mechanics and general relativity is now demonstrated by using lasers to suspend a glass microsphere in a vacuum.

Optically addressable spin defects, such as the NV centre in diamond, have enabled the nanoscale measurement of external stimuli. Here, Gao, Vaidya and coauthors observe a single spin colour centres in boron nitride nanotubes, which, due to their spin S = 1/2 ground state, allow for omnidirectional magnetic field sensing. ’

The boron vacancy center in hBN has been intensively studied, but its characterizations have remained limited. Here the authors achieve a 5-fold enhancement of coherence time using dynamical decoupling, which enables the direct estimation of defect concentration and its electric field susceptibility.

The negatively charged boron vacancy in hBN shows promise as a quantum sensor, but, until recently, the focus has been on its ground-state properties. Here, the authors report temperature-dependent spin-resonance optical spectroscopy of the orbital excited state.

Hybrid systems coupling electron spins and optomechanical responses are of potential use in quantum information systems and sensing technology. Here, the authors demonstrate optical levitation of nanodiamonds and the control of their nitrogen vacancy spins in vacuum.

Experimental studies of the Casimir effect have involved only interactions between two bodies so far. Here, the authors observe a micrometer-thick cantilever under the Casimir force exerted by microspheres from two sides simultaneously.

Quantum fluctuation in a vacuum can induce a measurable force between neutral objects in close vicinity. By dynamically modulating a system of two micromechanical oscillators near an exceptional point in the parameter space, this so-called Casimir effect can induce a non-reciprocal, diode-like energy transfer.