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Research in Optical Sciences

On-Chip Integration of NV Centers in Three-Dimensional Laser-Written Microstructures for Single Photon Applications

Andreas Wolfgang Schell, Tanja Neumer, Qiang Shi, Johannes Kaschke, Joachim Fischer, Rico Henze, Janik Wolters, Martin Wegener, Oliver J. Benson

Published Jan 1, 2014• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Using a hybrid material consisting of nanodiamonds and a photoresist three dimensional quantum optical elements are built. Coupling of single photons from nitrogen-vacancy centers is demonstrated and scalable on-demand fabrication of such elements is introduced.
DOI
10.1364/qim.2014.qtu3b.5

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Single Nitrogen-Vacancy centers (NV-centers) in diamond can be operated at ambient conditions as qubits in quantum memories and nanoscale quantum sensors. At TH Nürnberg, we plan to deterministically generate single NV-centers via femtosecond-laser pulses and integrate them into photonic platforms via 3D-printed microoptics and fs-written waveguides. This presentation gives a summary about our activites: The design and analysis of micro-lens systems to be manufactured via Two-Photon Polymerization on top of individual, self-written NV-centers for increased photon-collection efficiency, the programming of a spatial light modulator for wavefront optimization, the setup of a confocal scanning fluorescence microscope that addresses individual NV-Centers and laser material processing that allows to shape the diamond surface and to fabricate waveguides in the diamond for efficient optical coupling.
Diamond's nitrogen vacancy (NV) center is an optically active defect with long spin coherence times, showing great potential for both efficient nanoscale magnetometry and quantum information processing schemes. Recently, both the formation of buried 3D optical waveguides and high-quality single NVs in diamond were demonstrated using the versatile femtosecond laser-writing technique. However, until now, combining these technologies has been an outstanding challenge. In this Letter, we fabricate laser-written photonic waveguides in quantum grade diamond which are aligned to within micron resolution to single laser-written NVs, enabling an integrated platform providing deterministically positioned waveguide-coupled NVs. This fabrication technology opens the way toward on-chip optical routing of single photons between NVs and optically integrated spin-based sensing.
Single-photon sources are essential for quantum technologies, supporting secure communication, quantum computing, and integrated photonic systems. Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in nanodiamonds are robust emitters that operate at room temperature and can be positioned on-chip, but efficient coupling to photonic modes remains challenging. We present the design, fabrication, and experimental characterization of a silicon nitride photonic structure engineered to enhance and extract emission from NV centers. The device features a subwavelength gap between waveguides, a Bragg reflector for emission redirection, and an output waveguide for collection. Simulations guided the optimization of the geometry to increase the spontaneous emission rate through photonic confinement. Nanodiamonds were deposited into the gap using lithographic patterning and drop-casting. Fluorescence lifetime measurements confirm that the structure modifies the emission dynamics of the NV centers. The approach is compatible with scalable fabrication techniques and offers a practical route toward integrated, chip-based single-photon sources.