Dependence of nitrogen vacancy color centers on nitrogen concentration in synthetic diamond

Crystallization of diamond with different nitrogen concentrations was carried out with a FeNiCo-C system at pressure of 6.5 GPa. As the nitrogen concentration in diamond increased, the color of the synthesized diamond crystals changed from colorless to yellow and finally to atrovirens (a dark green). All the Raman peaks for the obtained crystals were located at about 1330 cm^-1 and contained only the sp³ hybrid diamond phase. Based on Fourier transform infrared results, the nitrogen concentration of the colorless diamond was < 1 ppm and absorption peaks corresponding to nitrogen impurities were not detected. However, the C-center nitrogen concentration of the atrovirens diamond reached 1030 ppm and the value of A-center nitrogen was approximately 180 ppm with a characteristic absorption peak at 1282 cm^-1. Furthermore, neither the NV⁰ nor the NV^- optical color center existed in diamond crystal with nitrogen impurities of less than 1 ppm by photoluminescence measurement. However, Ni-related centers located at 695 nm and 793.6 nm were observed in colorless diamond. The NE8 color center at 793.6 nm has more potential for application than the common NV centers. NV⁰ and NV^- optical color centers coexist in diamond without any additives in the synthesis system. Importantly, only the NV^- color center was noticed in diamond with a higher nitrogen concentration, which maximized optimization of the NV^-/NV⁰ ratio in the diamond structure. This study has provided a new way to prepare diamond containing only NV^- optical color centers.     

Two-photon quantum interference from separate nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond

We report on the observation of quantum interference of the emission from two separate nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. Taking advantage of optically induced spin polarization in combination with polarization filtering, we isolate a single transition within the zero-phonon line of the nonresonantly excited NV centers. The time-resolved two-photon interference contrast of this filtered emission reaches 66%. Furthermore, we observe quantum interference from dissimilar NV centers tuned into resonance through the dc Stark effect. These results pave the way towards measurement-based entanglement between remote NV centers and the realization of quantum networks with solid-state spins.     

Temporal coherence of photons emitted by single nitrogen-vacancy defect centers in diamond using optical Rabi-oscillations

Photon interference among distant quantum emitters is a promising method to generate large scale quantum networks. Interference is best achieved when photons show long coherence times. For the nitrogen-vacancy defect center in diamond we measure the coherence times of photons via optically induced Rabi oscillations. Experiments reveal a close to Fourier-transform (i.e., lifetime) limited width of photons emitted even when averaged over minutes. The projected contrast of two-photon interference (0.8) is high enough to envisage applications in quantum information processing. We report 12 and 7.8 ns excited state lifetimes depending on the spin state of the defect.     

Stark shift control of single optical centers in diamond

Lifetime-limited optical excitation lines of single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect centers in diamond have been observed at liquid helium temperature. They display unprecedented spectral stability over many seconds and excitation cycles. Spectral tuning of the spin-selective optical resonances was performed via the application of an external electric field (i.e., the Stark shift). A rich variety of Stark shifts were observed including linear as well as quadratic components. The ability to tune the excitation lines of single NV centers has potential applications in quantum information processing.     

Laser-polarization-dependent spontaneous emission of the zero phonon line from single nitrogen vacancy center in diamond

We investigate spontaneous emission properties and control of the zero phonon line （ZPL） from a diamond nitrogen- vacancy （NV） center coherently driven by a single ellipfically polarized control field. We use the Schrrdinger equation to calculate the probability amplitudes of the wave function of the coupled system and derive analytical expressions of the spontaneous emission spectra. The numerical results show that a few interesting phenomena such as enhancement, narrowing, suppression, and quenching of the ZPL spontaneous emission can be realized by modulating the polarization- dependent phase, the Zeeman shift, and the intensity of the control field in our system. In the dressed-state picture of the control field, we find that multiple spontaneously generated coherence arises due to three close-lying states decaying to the same state. These results are useful in real experiments.     

Spin coherence during optical excitation of a single nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond

We examine the quantum spin state of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond at room temperature as it makes a transition from the orbital ground state (GS) to the orbital excited state (ES) during nonresonant optical excitation. While the fluorescence readout of NV-center spins relies on conservation of the longitudinal spin projection during optical excitation, the question of quantum phase preservation has not been examined. Using Ramsey measurements and quantum process tomography of the optical excitation process, we measure a trace fidelity of F=0.87±0.03, which includes ES spin dephasing during measurement. Extrapolation to the moment of optical excitation yields F≈0.95. This result provides insight into the interaction between spin coherence and nonresonant optical absorption through a vibronic sideband.     

金刚石纳米颗粒中氮空位色心的电子自旋研究

通过电子注入的方法制备了含氮空位色心单光子源的金刚石荧光纳米颗粒. 自旋回声测试结果表明, 纳米颗粒中氮空位色心的相干时间T₂很短, 介于0.86 μs至5.6 μs之间. Ramsey干涉条纹测试结果表明, 氮空位色心NV1点的退相干时间T₂^* 最大, 为0.7 μs, 其电子自旋共振谱可分辨的最小线宽为1.05 MHz. 并且NV1点的电子自旋共振谱可分辨氮空位色心本身的¹⁴N核自旋与 氮空位色心电子自旋之间的2.2 MHz超精细相互作用, 这对于在金刚石纳米颗粒中实现核自旋的操控和多个量子比特的门操作具有重要意义. 关键词： 纳米颗粒 氮空位色心 电子自旋     

Laser-polarization-dependent and magnetically controlled optical bistability in diamond nitrogen-vacancy centers

We explore laser-polarization-dependent and magnetically controlled optical bistability (OB) in an optical ring cavity filled with diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect centers under optical excitation. The shape of the OB curve can be significantly modified in a new operating regime from the previously studied OB case, namely, by adjusting the intensity of the external magnetic field and the polarization of the control beam. The influences of the intensity of the control beam, the frequency detuning, and the cooperation parameter on the OB behavior are also discussed in detail. These results are useful in real experiments for realizing an all-optical bistate switching or coding element in a solid-state platform.     

Quantum Monte Carlo study of the optical and diffusive properties of the vacancy defect in diamond

Fixed-node diffusion quantum Monte Carlo (DMC) calculations of the ground and excited state energetics of the neutral vacancy defect in diamond are reported. The multiplet structure of the defect is modeled using guiding wave functions of the Slater-Jastrow type with symmetrized multideterminant Slater parts. For the ground state we obtain the 1E state in agreement with experiment. The calculated energy of the lowest dipole allowed transition is consistent with the experimentally observed GR1 band, which has long been identified with the neutral vacancy in diamond, although no previous first-principles ab initio calculation of this transition exists. The calculated multiplet splitting of over 2 eV indicates the importance of a proper treatment of electron exchange and correlation in this system. DMC calculations of the formation and migration energy of the vacancy defect are presented.     

Dark states of single nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond unraveled by single shot NMR

The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond is supposed to be a building block for quantum computing and nanometer-scale metrology at ambient conditions. Therefore, precise knowledge of its quantum states is crucial. Here, we experimentally show that under usual operating conditions the NV exists in an equilibrium of two charge states [70% in the expected negative (NV-) and 30% in the neutral one (NV0)]. Projective quantum nondemolition measurement of the nitrogen nuclear spin enables the detection even of the additional, optically inactive state. The nuclear spin can be coherently driven also in NV0 (T1≈90 ms and T2≈6 μs).     

Statistical analysis of micro-luminescence maps of implanted optical centers in diamond

We report on an approach to determine the number of optical emitters based on establishing the proper relationship between the statistics of implanted ions and the signal from optical centers (e.g. photoluminescence) collected at different points in the sample. Knowing the number of implanted ions, one can estimate the probability for an ion to create an optical center—the conversion efficiency. The micro-luminescence mapping and statistical analyses were performed on a model Xe optical center in diamond and the conversion efficiency was estimated to be about 30%.     

Quantum interference of single photons from remote nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond

We demonstrate quantum interference between indistinguishable photons emitted by two nitrogen-vacancy centers in distinct diamond samples separated by two meters. Macroscopic solid immersion lenses are used to enhance photon collection efficiency. Quantum interference is verified by measuring a value of the second-order cross-correlation function g((2))(0)=0.35±0.04<0.5. In addition, optical transition frequencies of two separated nitrogen-vacancy centers are tuned into resonance with each other by applying external electric fields. An extension of the present approach to generate entanglement of remote solid-state qubits is discussed.     

An LCAO-MO treatment of the vacancy in diamond

A simple molecular orbital treatment which has previously been applied successfully to the substitutional nitrogen donor and boron acceptor in diamond is here applied to the vacancy in diamond. Localized levels associated with the vacancy are found in the gap and an outward relaxation of the four neighbors surrounding the vacancy is predicted. Jahn-Teller effects are found to give stabilization energies of ～0.5 eV. A critical comparison to the ‘defect molecule’ approach of Coulson and Kearsley and Yamaguchi is included.     

Multi-channel spectral-domain optical coherence tomography using single spectrometer

Multi-channel detection is an effective way to improve data throughput of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(SDOCT).However,current multi-channel OCT requires multiple detectors,which increases the complexity and cost of the system.We propose a novel multi-channel detection design based on a single spectrometer.Each camera pixel receives interferometric spectral signals from all the channels but with a spectral shift between two channels.This design effectively broadens the spectral ba...     

Anion vacancy centers in alkaline earth oxides

For many years, study of the defect state of oxide crystals was overshadowed by activity in the alkali halides. However, during the last decade, work on oxides has emerged as an important field of study in its. own right. This burgeoning of interest came about for many reasons. First the properties of defects in the alkali halides became well understood, and it was natural for workers in this field, to search for new pastures. Secondly, reliable supplies of good? quality single crystals became more readily available. Furthermore, a greater understanding of band structure, lattice dynamics, and mass transport became apparent, and concerted efforts were made by various researchers to introduce defects into oxides in a controlled manner.     

Coherent population trapping of single spins in diamond under optical excitation

Coherent population trapping is demonstrated in single nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond under optical excitation. For sufficient excitation power, the fluorescence intensity drops almost to the background level when the laser modulation frequency matches the 2.88 GHz splitting of the ground states. The results are well described theoretically by a four-level model, allowing the relative transition strengths to be determined for individual centers. The results show that all-optical control of single spins is possible in diamond.