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arXiv:1603.00789 · Nature Communications

Ultrafast all-optical coherent control of single silicon vacancy colour centres in diamond

Jonas N. Becker, Johannes Görlitz, Carsten Arend, Matthew Markham, Christoph Becher

Published Nov 14, 2016• 142 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract Complete control of the state of a quantum bit (qubit) is a fundamental requirement for any quantum information processing (QIP) system. In this context, all-optical control techniques offer the advantage of a well-localized and potentially ultrafast manipulation of individual qubits in multi-qubit systems. Recently, the negatively charged silicon vacancy centre (SiV − ) in diamond has emerged as a novel promising system for QIP due to its superior spectral properties and advantageous electronic structure, offering an optically accessible Λ -type level system with large orbital splittings. Here, we report on all-optical resonant as well as Raman-based coherent control of a single SiV − using ultrafast pulses as short as 1 ps, significantly faster than the centre’s phonon-limited ground state coherence time of about 40 ns. These measurements prove the accessibility of a complete set of single-qubit operations relying solely on optical fields and pave the way for high-speed QIP applications using SiV − centres.

DOI
10.1038/ncomms13512

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Abstract Complete control of the state of a quantum bit (qubit) is a fundamental requirement for any quantum information processing (QIP) system. In this context, all-optical control techniques offer the advantage of a well-localized and potentially ultrafast manipulation of individual qubits in multi-qubit systems. Recently, the negatively charged silicon vacancy centre (SiV − ) in diamond has emerged as a novel promising system for QIP due to its superior spectral properties and advantageous electronic structure, offering an optically accessible Λ -type level system with large orbital splittings. Here, we report on all-optical resonant as well as Raman-based coherent control of a single SiV − using ultrafast pulses as short as 1 ps, significantly faster than the centre’s phonon-limited ground state coherence time of about 40 ns. These measurements prove the accessibility of a complete set of single-qubit operations relying solely on optical fields and pave the way for high-speed QIP applications using SiV − centres.
Full coherent control of quantum systems is a key prerequisite to build a quantum information processing (QIP) system. Spatially selective and ultrafast control of individual qubits in multi-qubit systems, on the other hand, optimally is based on all-optical control techniques using short laser pulses. However, these techniques require optically accessible quantum systems with suitable electronic level configurations to allow for the application of ultrafast and thus broadband pulses. Moreover, to enable good scalability, quantum systems in the solid state are generally preferred. So far, the only quantum systems in the solid state that match all these requirements are semiconductor quantum dots. However, to achieve a suitable level structure in these systems charged dots in strong magnetic fields have to be used.
In the last decade atom-sized point defects in diamond, so called colour centres, have proven to be suitable systems for quantum information processing as well as quantum communication and sensing applications. Besides the wellknown nitrogen vacancy centre, the negatively charged silicon vacancy centre has recently proven to be a promising candidate due to its superior spectral properties such as narrow zero-phonon line widths and small phonon sidebands. In this feature article (article No.201700586) the authors summarize the center's electronic and optical properties as well as recent advances in controlling its quantum state using microwave as well as ultrafast all-optical control techniques which make it accessible for future quantum information processing applications. Moreover, the authors outline potential future experimental directions to improve the center's coherence time scale which so far is limited by phonon-induced decoherence. The cover picture shows an artistic representation of the silicon vacancy centre with its inversion-symmetric structure in a diamond crystal being addressed by an ultrashort laser pulse.
Abstract Spin impurities in diamond have emerged as a promising building block in a wide range of solid-state-based quantum technologies. The negatively charged silicon-vacancy centre combines the advantages of its high-quality photonic properties with a ground-state electronic spin, which can be read out optically. However, for this spin to be operational as a quantum bit, full quantum control is essential. Here we report the measurement of optically detected magnetic resonance and the demonstration of coherent control of a single silicon-vacancy centre spin with a microwave field. Using Ramsey interferometry, we directly measure a spin coherence time, T2*, of 115±9 ns at 3.6 K. The temperature dependence of coherence times indicates that dephasing and decay of the spin arise from single-phonon-mediated excitation between orbital branches of the ground state. Our results enable the silicon-vacancy centre spin to become a controllable resource to establish spin-photon quantum interfaces.
Arrays of identical and individually addressable qubits lay the foundation for the creation of scalable quantum hardware such as quantum processors and repeaters. Silicon-vacancy (SiV) centers in diamond offer excellent physical properties such as low inhomogeneous broadening, fast photon emission, and a large Debye–Waller factor. The possibility for all-optical ultrafast manipulation and techniques to extend the spin coherence times makes them promising candidates for qubits. Here, we have developed arrays of nanopillars containing single (SiV) centers with high yield, and we demonstrate ultrafast all-optical complete coherent control of the excited state population of a single SiV center at the optical transition frequency. The high quality of the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown SiV centers provides excellent spectral stability, which allows us to coherently manipulate and quasi-resonantly read out the excited state population of individual SiV centers on picosecond timescales using ultrafast optical pulses. Furthermore, this work opens new opportunities to create a scalable on-chip diamond platform for quantum information processing and scalable nanophotonics applications.
Arrays of identical and individually addressable qubits lay the foundation for the creation of scalable quantum hardware such as quantum processors and repeaters. Silicon vacancy centers in diamond (SiV) offer excellent physical properties such as low inhomogeneous broadening, fast photon emission, and a large Debye-Waller factor, while the possibility for all-optical ultrafast manipulation and techniques to extend the spin coherence times make them very promising candidates for qubits. Here, we have developed arrays of nanopillars containing single SiV centers with high yield, and we demonstrate ultrafast all-optical complete coherent control of the state of a single SiV center. The high quality of the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown SiV centers provides excellent spectral stability, which allows us to coherently manipulate and quasi-resonantly read out the state of individual SiV centers on picosecond timescales using ultrafast optical pulses. This work opens new opportunities towards the creation of a scalable on-chip diamond platform for quantum information processing and scalable nanophotonics applications.