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arXiv:1706.07566

Near-unity collection efficiency from quantum emitters in bulk diamond using chirped circular dielectric gratings

Jiabao Zheng, Andreas C. Liapis, Edward H. Chen, Charles T. Black, Dirk Englund

Published Jun 23, 2017• 1 citation
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Efficient collection of fluorescence from nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond underlies the spin-dependent optical read-out that is necessary for quantum information processing and enhanced sensing applications. The optical collection efficiency from NVs within diamond substrates is limited primarily due to the high refractive index of diamond and the non-directional dipole emission. Here we introduce a light collection strategy based on chirped, circular dielectric gratings that can be fabricated on a bulk diamond substrate to redirect an emitter's far-field radiation pattern. Using a genetic optimization algorithm, these grating designs achieve 98.9% collection efficiency for the NV zero-phonon emission line, collected from the back surface of the diamond with an objective of aperture 0.9. Across the broadband emission spectrum of the NV (600-800 nm), the chirped grating achieves 82.2% collection efficiency into a numerical aperture of 1.42, corresponding to an oil immersion objective again on the back side of the diamond. Our proposed bulk-dielectric grating structures are applicable to other optically active solid state quantum emitters in high index host materials.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.1706.07566

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•Jan 1, 2017•2 citations
Efficient collection of fluorescence from nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond underlies the spin-dependent optical read-out that is necessary for quantum information processing and enhanced sensing applications. The optical collection efficiency from NVs within diamond substrates is limited primarily due to the high refractive index of diamond and the non-directional dipole emission. Here we introduce a light collection strategy based on chirped, circular dielectric gratings that can be fabricated on a bulk diamond substrate to redirect an emitter's far-field radiation pattern. Using a genetic optimization algorithm, these grating designs achieve 98.9% collection efficiency for the NV zero-phonon emission line, collected from the back surface of the diamond with an objective of aperture 0.9. Across the broadband emission spectrum of the NV (600-800 nm), the chirped grating achieves 82.2% collection efficiency into a numerical aperture of 1.42, corresponding to an oil immersion objective again on the back side of the diamond. Our proposed bulk-dielectric grating structures are applicable to other optically active solid state quantum emitters in high index host materials.
The holy grail for quantum engineers and scientists is to build the quantum internet that spans over the entire globe. This information infrastructure holds the promise for transmitting information securely, scaling up computing power exponentially and setting the standards for precision measurement at the ultimate limit. Solid-state-based spin systems recently emerge as promising building blocks for the quantum internet. Among these candidates, the negatively charged nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond attracted much attention thanks to its optical addressability, long spin coherence times, and well-controlled electronic orbitals and spin states. However, the non-ideal optical properties of NV poses a challenge to its implementation in quantum technologies. This calls for building photonic structures as efficient spin-photon interfaces for realizing strong interactions with photon modes or efficient out-coupling of its fluorescence. Such interfacing structures are also of great importance for other optically active spin-systems newly found. In this dissertation, chirped dielectric cavities are designed for building NV as fast single photon sources via broadband Purcell enhancement, using an inverse simulation approach to maximize the broadband absorption of the atomically thin absorbers. Simulated NV-cavity coupling indicates broadband Purcell factor of ∼> 100. Next, to realize coupled NV-cavity systems over large scale, a self-aligned nano-implantation technique is investigated using a lithographically defined hybrid mask for both precision pattern transfer and nitrogen implantation. Measured results show single-NV per cavity yield of ∼ 26±1% and 5-fold Purcell induced intensity enhancement. Finally, chirped circular gratings are designed for efficient collection from the NV for remote entanglement and precision sensing. Simulated grating structures present near-unity collection efficiencies. These demonstrated techniques and structures are also applicable to other solid-state-based spin systems.
Efficient collection of the broadband fluorescence from the diamond nitrogen vacancy (NV) center is essential for a range of applications in sensing, on-demand single photon generation, and quantum information processing. Here, we introduce a circular "bullseye" diamond grating which enables a collected photon rate of (2.7 ± 0.09) × 10(6) counts per second from a single NV with a spin coherence time of 1.7 ± 0.1 ms. Back-focal-plane studies indicate efficient redistribution of the NV photoluminescence into low-NA modes by the bullseye grating.
Efficient collection of fluorescence light is essential for all optically adressable qubit platforms. For the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond, the high refractive index of the host medium poses a major challenge as it limits the solid angle under which fluorescence light can leave the crystal. To enhance collection efficiency from single NV centers, we design and simulate micro-optical elements that shall be directly fabricated on the diamond surface using two-photon polymerization. Several optical designs and photoresists are evaluated for their expected coupling efficiency into single-mode fibers and their tolerance to fabrication errors. Additionally, an analytical solution for single lens collimation of the emission of a point source in diamond at a specific wavelength is presented, as well as considerations regarding the degradation of wavefront quality in multi-wavelength Fresnel designs.
Quantum emitters in solids are being developed for a range of quantum technologies, including quantum networks, computing, and sensing. However, a remaining challenge is the poor photon collection due to the high refractive index of most host materials. Here we overcome this limitation by introducing monolithic parabolic reflectors as an efficient geometry for broadband photon extraction from quantum emitter and experimentally demonstrate this device for the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond. Simulations indicate a photon collection efficiency exceeding 75% across the visible spectrum and experimental devices, fabricated using a high-throughput gray scale lithography process, demonstrating a photon extraction efficiency of (41 ± 5)%. This device enables a raw experimental detection efficiency of (12 ± 1)% with fluorescence detection rates as high as (4.114 ± 0.003) × 10 6 counts per second (cps) from a single NV center. Enabled by our deterministic emitter localization and fabrication process, we find a high number of exceptional devices with an average count rate of (3.1 ± 0.9) × 10 6 cps.
We present a novel design of optical nanostructure for efficient light extraction from nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond. Numerical simulations of the optimal structure exhibit significant collection efficiency along with a stable radiation profile. We achieved a photon collection efficiency of 70% even with a lower numerical aperture of 0.5. Two different approaches (simple cone and encapsulated cone) have been adopted to reach a high geometrical tolerance without affecting much to the efficiency and emission profile. Besides that, our structure adds an extra benefit in terms of emission enhancement near zero phonon line (ZPL) region of NV spectra. Overall, this cone shaped diamond structure provides a robust, highly efficient and directional emission which can be integrated with a quantum optical network for various applications.
The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond has an optically addressable, highly coherent spin. However, an NV center even in high quality single-crystalline material is a very poor source of single photons: extraction out of the high-index diamond is inefficient, the emission of coherent photons represents just a few per cent of the total emission, and the decay time is large. In principle, all three problems can be addressed with a resonant microcavity, which significantly boosts the emission rate of coherent photons into the cavity mode based on the Purcell effect. In practice though, it has proved difficult to implement this concept: photonic engineering hinges on nano-fabrication yet it is notoriously difficult to process diamond without degrading the NV centers. \nIn this thesis, we present a microcavity scheme which employs minimally processed diamond membranes, thereby preserving the high quality of the starting material. The miniaturized plano-concave Fabry-Perot microcavity platform features full in situ spatial and spectral tunability. We demonstrate a clear change in the lifetime for multiple individual NV centers on tuning both the cavity frequency and anti-node position. The overall Purcell factor for the zero-phonon line (ZPL) of ~30 translates to an increase in the ZPL emission probability from ~3% to ~46%. \nFurthermore, we report the creation of a low-loss, broadband optical antenna giving highly directed output from a coherent single spin in the solid state. The device, the first crystalline solid-state realization of a dielectric antenna, is engineered for individual NV electronic spins in diamond. The photonic structure preserves the high spin coherence of single-crystalline diamond (T2 ~100µs). We demonstrate a directionality of close to 10 and single photon count rates approaching one MHz. The analysis of the angular emission pattern of our device suggests that 95% of the broadband NV fluorescence is channeled into a solid angle corresponding to a numerical aperture of 0.8. \nThe abovementioned approaches feature complementary benefits. The narrowband enhancement of the ZPL emission rate provided by the microcavity benefits applications in quantum information processing relying on coherent photons. With the prospect of integrating lifetime-limited emitters and achieving a high ZPL collection efficiency our results pave the way for much enhanced spin-photon and spin-spin entanglement rates. On the other hand, by channeling the major fraction of the broadband NV fluorescence into a narrow solid angle the dielectric optical antenna facilitates efficient spin readout. Our approach enables a near-unity collection efficiency which, upon mitigation of the known photon losses, renders it a potential key technology for quantum sensing applications. \n