Abstract Absorption and emission in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectral range are usually mediated by the electric-field component of light. Only some electronic transitions have significant “magnetic-dipole” character, meaning that they couple to the magnetic field of light. Nanophotonic control over magnetic-dipole emission has recently been demonstrated, and magnetic-dipole transitions have been used to probe the magnetic-field profiles of photonic structures. However, the library of available magnetic-dipole emitters is currently limited to red or infrared emitters and mostly doped solids. Here, we show that NaYF4 nanocrystals doped with Eu3+ have various electric- and magnetic-dipole emission lines throughout the visible spectral range from multiple excited states. At the same time, the colloidal nature of the nanocrystals allows easy handling. We demonstrate the use of these nanocrystals as probes for the radiative electric and magnetic local density of optical states in a planar mirror geometry. A single emission spectrum can reveal enhancement or suppression of the density of optical states at multiple frequencies simultaneously. Such nanocrystals may find application in the characterization of nanophotonic structures or as model emitters for studies into magnetic light–matter interaction at optical frequencies.Abstract Absorption and emission in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectral range are usually mediated by the electric-field component of light. Only some electronic transitions have significant “magnetic-dipole” character, meaning that they couple to the magnetic field of light. Nanophotonic control over magnetic-dipole emission has recently been demonstrated, and magnetic-dipole transitions have been used to probe the magnetic-field profiles of photonic structures. However, the library of available magnetic-dipole emitters is currently limited to red or infrared emitters and mostly doped solids. Here, we show that NaYF4 nanocrystals doped with Eu3+ have various electric- and magnetic-dipole emission lines throughout the visible spectral range from multiple excited states. At the same time, the colloidal nature of the nanocrystals allows easy handling. We demonstrate the use of these nanocrystals as probes for the radiative electric and magnetic local density of optical states in a planar mirror geometry. A single emission spectrum can reveal enhancement or suppression of the density of optical states at multiple frequencies simultaneously. Such nanocrystals may find application in the characterization of nanophotonic structures or as model emitters for studies into magnetic light–matter interaction at optical frequencies.

Nano LettersOct 24, 201668 citations

Strong Purcell enhancement of an optical magnetic dipole transition

Sebastian P. Horvath, Christopher M. Phenicie, Salim Ourari +9 more

Engineering the local density of states with nanophotonic structures is a powerful tool to control light-matter interactions via the Purcell effect. At optical frequencies, control over the electric field density of states is typically used to couple to and manipulate electric dipole transitions. However, it is also possible to engineer the magnetic density of states to control magnetic dipole transitions. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate the optical magnetic Purcell effect using a single rare earth ion coupled to a nanophotonic cavity. We engineer a new single photon emitter, Er $^{3+}$ in MgO, where the electric dipole decay rate is strongly suppressed by the cubic site symmetry, giving rise to a nearly pure magnetic dipole optical transition. This allows the unambiguous determination of a magnetic Purcell factor $P_m=1040 \pm 30$ . We further extend this technique to realize a magnetic dipole spin-photon interface, performing optical spin initialization and readout of a single Er $^{3+}$ electron spin. This work demonstrates the fundamental equivalence of electric and magnetic density of states engineering, and provides a new tool for controlling light-matter interactions for a broader class of emitters.Engineering the local density of states with nanophotonic structures is a powerful tool to control light-matter interactions via the Purcell effect. At optical frequencies, control over the electric field density of states is typically used to couple to and manipulate electric dipole transitions. However, it is also possible to engineer the magnetic density of states to control magnetic dipole transitions. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate the optical magnetic Purcell effect using a single rare earth ion coupled to a nanophotonic cavity. We engineer a new single photon emitter, Er$^{3+}$ in MgO, where the electric dipole decay rate is strongly suppressed by the cubic site symmetry, giving rise to a nearly pure magnetic dipole optical transition. This allows the unambiguous determination of a magnetic Purcell factor $P_m=1040 \pm 30$. We further extend this technique to realize a magnetic dipole spin-photon interface, performing optical spin initialization and readout of a single Er$^{3+}$ electron spin. This work demonstrates the fundamental equivalence of electric and magnetic density of states engineering, and provides a new tool for controlling light-matter interactions for a broader class of emitters.

arXiv:2307.03022Jul 6, 20234 citations

Magnetic light-matter interactions: Quantifying and exploiting magnetic dipole transitions

Zia

Conference on Lasers and Electro-OpticsJan 1, 20120 citations

Quantifying the magnetic nature of light emission

T. H. Taminiau, Sinan Karaveli, N.F. van Hulst +1 more

Tremendous advances in the study of magnetic light-matter interactions have recently been achieved using man-made nanostructures that exhibit and exploit an optical magnetic response. However, naturally occurring emitters can also exhibit magnetic resonances in the form of optical-frequency magnetic-dipole transitions. Here we quantify the magnetic nature of light emission using energy- and momentum-resolved spectroscopy, and leverage a pair of spectrally close electric- and magnetic-dipole transitions in trivalent europium to probe vacuum fluctuations in the electric and magnetic fields at the nanometre scale. These results reveal a new tool for nano-optics: an atomic-size quantum emitter that interacts with the magnetic component of light. Light-matter interactions are generally dominated by electric fields and electric-dipole transitions. This study, however, quantifies magnetic contributions to light emission and so exploits the strong natural magnetic-dipole transitions in lanthanide ions to measure optical-frequency magnetic fields.Tremendous advances in the study of magnetic light-matter interactions have recently been achieved using man-made nanostructures that exhibit and exploit an optical magnetic response. However, naturally occurring emitters can also exhibit magnetic resonances in the form of optical-frequency magnetic-dipole transitions. Here we quantify the magnetic nature of light emission using energy- and momentum-resolved spectroscopy, and leverage a pair of spectrally close electric- and magnetic-dipole transitions in trivalent europium to probe vacuum fluctuations in the electric and magnetic fields at the nanometre scale. These results reveal a new tool for nano-optics: an atomic-size quantum emitter that interacts with the magnetic component of light. Light-matter interactions are generally dominated by electric fields and electric-dipole transitions. This study, however, quantifies magnetic contributions to light emission and so exploits the strong natural magnetic-dipole transitions in lanthanide ions to measure optical-frequency magnetic fields.

Nature CommunicationsJul 31, 2012229 citations

^{3+}

in MgO, where the electric dipole decay rate is strongly suppressed by the cubic site symmetry, giving rise to a nearly pure magnetic dipole optical transition. This allows the unambiguous determination of a magnetic Purcell factor

P_m=1040 \pm 30

. We further extend this technique to realize a magnetic dipole spin-photon interface, performing optical spin initialization and readout of a single Er

^{3+}

electron spin. This work demonstrates the fundamental equivalence of electric and magnetic density of states engineering, and provides a new tool for controlling light-matter interactions for a broader class of emitters.