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arXiv:2003.11135 · InfoMat

Novel color center platforms enabling fundamental scientific discovery

Victoria A. Norman, Sridhar Majety, Zhipan Wang, William H. Casey, Nicholas J. Curro, Marina Radulaski

Published Jun 28, 2020• 58 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract Color centers are versatile systems that generate quantum light, sense magnetic fields and produce spin‐photon entanglement. We review how these properties have pushed the limits of fundamental knowledge in a variety of scientific disciplines, from rejecting local‐realistic theories to sensing superconducting phase transitions. In the light of recent progress in material processing and device fabrication, we identify new opportunities for interdisciplinary fundamental discoveries in physics and geochemistry. image

DOI
10.1002/inf2.12128

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ABSTRACT Quantum computing leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to perform computations that are infeasible for classical computers. Color centers, which are point defects in a crystal lattice where vacancies in the lattice and/or an impurity atom replace a host atom, exhibit unique optical, electronic, and nuclear spin properties that make them suitable for quantum information and communication processing as well as for quantum computations with quantum memory. Among the color centers, nitrogen‐vacancy centers in diamond, the most developed, silicon vacancy (V Si ) centers in silicon carbide (SiC), and boron vacancy (V B ) centers in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) have emerged as leading candidates. Diamond and SiC material hosts are particularly promising due to the long spin and photon coherence times, optical addressability, compatibility with various quantum operations, while SiC promises higher compatibility with scalable industrial fabrication processing, and 2D materials are better suited for hybrid photonics and electronics integration. This paper provides a detailed overview of the advantages, challenges, and recent advancements in using these color centers for quantum computing. In addition, it discusses other potential color centers of interest, such as silicon (SiV) and germanium (GeV) vacancies in diamond, tin vacancies (SnV) in diamond, chromium and nickel centers in diamond, and rare‐earth ions in host materials like yttrium orthosilicate and calcium fluoride. By understanding and utilizing the properties of these diverse color centers, researchers aim to develop more efficient, scalable, and versatile quantum computers, which could lead to hybrid quantum‐classical systems that combine the strengths of different platforms and potentially transform fields like cryptography, material science, drug discovery, and complex system simulations (climate modeling, fusion energy).
Single-photon sources are important for integrated photonics and quantum technologies, and can be used in quantum key distribution, quantum computing, and sensing. Color centers in the solid state are a promising candidate for the development of the next generation of single-photon sources integrated in quantum photonics devices. They are point defects in a crystal lattice that absorb and emit light at given wavelengths and can emit single photons with high efficiency. The landscape of color centers has changed abruptly in recent years, with the identification of a wider set of color centers and the emergence of new solid-state platforms for room-temperature single-photon generation. This review discusses the emerging material platforms hosting single-photon-emitting color centers, with an emphasis on their potential for the development of integrated optical circuits for quantum photonics.
Optically active color centers in nanodiamonds offer unique opportunities for generating and manipulating quantum states of light. These mechanically, chemically, and optically robust emitters can be produced in mass quantities, deterministically manipulated, and integrated with a variety of quantum device geometries and photonic material platforms. Nanodiamonds with deeply sub-wavelength sizes coupled to nanophotonic structures feature a giant enhancement of light-matter interaction, promising high bitrates in quantum photonic systems. We review the recent advances in controlled techniques for synthesizing, selecting, and manipulating nanodiamond-based color centers for their integration with quantum nanophotonic devices.
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With the ability to transfer and process quantum information, large-scale quantum networks will enable a suite of fundamentally new applications, from quantum communications to distributed sensing, metrology, and computing. This Perspective reviews requirements for quantum network nodes and color centers in diamond as suitable node candidates. We give a brief overview of state-of-the-art quantum network experiments employing color centers in diamond and discuss future research directions, focusing, in particular, on the control and coherence of qubits that distribute and store entangled states, and on efficient spin–photon interfaces. We discuss a route toward large-scale integrated devices combining color centers in diamond with other photonic materials and give an outlook toward realistic future quantum network protocol implementations and applications.