Ashok Ajoy
About
Ashok Ajoy and his group are interested in harnessing the power of quantum technologies to address outstanding real-world challenges in the chemical sciences. A particular focus is the innovation of “quantum enhanced” methods of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to study complex systems. Nuclear spins are ubiquitous quantum mechanical objects which report on their local physical and chemical environments via NMR spectroscopy. However, conventional NMR techniques suffer from severe technical limitations in signal strength and spatial resolution. Ajoy’s group is employing quantum information techniques and non-equilibrium quantum states to access new paradigms of “deployable” NMR sensing, with the aim of performing physical and chemical measurement with nanoscale spatial resolution and significantly enhanced signal-to-noise ratio. This would open several new avenues for sensitive probing of exotic materials and surfaces, real-time analyte tracking, interrogation of chemical reaction mechanisms, and in-cell chemical imaging.
Awards
- Google Faculty Research Award, Google LLC, 2020
- Young Investigator Presentation Award, MRS Meeting, 2020
- Del Favero Thesis Prize, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2017
- Manson Benedict Award, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2014
- Co.Co.Mat Exchange Scholarship, University of Ulm, 2013
Relevant Publications
- Beatrez, W., Janes, O., Akkiraju, A., Pillai, A., Oddo, A., Reshetikhin, P., Druga, E., McAllister, M., Elo, M., Gilbert, B., Suter, D., & Ajoy, A. (2021). Floquet Prethermalization with Lifetime Exceeding 90 s in a Bulk Hyperpolarized Solid. Physical Review Letters, 127(17), 170603. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.170603
- Ajoy, A., Nazaryan, R., Liu, K., Lv, X., Safvati, B., Wang, G., Druga, E., Reimer, J. A., Suter, D., Ramanathan, C., Meriles, C. A., & Pines, A. (2018). Enhanced dynamic nuclear polarization via swept microwave frequency combs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(42), 10576–10581. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1807125115
- Ajoy, A., Liu, K., Nazaryan, R., Lv, X., Zangara, P. R., Safvati, B., Wang, G., Arnold, D., Li, G., & Lin, A. (2018). Orientation-independent room temperature optical 13C hyperpolarization in powdered diamond. Science Advances, 4(5), eaar5492. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aar5492.
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CIFAR is a registered charitable organization supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Quebec, as well as foundations, individuals, corporations and Canadian and international partner organizations.