Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Optics Letters

Low power charge state depletion nanoscopy of the defect in diamonds with a pulsed laser excitation

Dengfeng Li, Bo Du, Xiang-Dong Chen, Guang‐Can Guo, Fang‐Wen Sun

Published Jan 3, 2020• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Two-photon charge state conversion has been utilized to improve the spatial resolution of the sensing and imaging with the nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamonds. Here, we studied the charge state conversion of the NV center under picosecond pulsed laser excitation. With the same average power, the charge state conversion rate can be improved approximately 24 times by reducing the repetition rate of the laser pulse from 80 to 1 MHz. Subsequently, a pulsed laser with a low repetition rate was applied for the super-resolution charge state depletion microscopy of the NV center. The average power of the depletion laser was reduced approximately 5 times. It can decrease the optical heating, which affects the accuracy and sensitivity of sensing. With the assistance of an additional near-infrared laser, a resolution of 12 nm was obtained with 1 mW depletion laser power. Combined with spin manipulation, we expect our results can be used for the development of a diffraction-unlimited NV center sensing.

DOI
10.1364/ol.383388

Related papers

Subdiffraction optical manipulation of the charge state of nitrogen vacancy center in diamond

Xiang-Dong Chen, Chang‐Ling Zou, Zhao-Jun Gong +3 more

As a potential candidate for quantum computation and metrology, the nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond presents both challenges and opportunities resulting from charge-state conversion. By utilizing different lasers for the photon-induced charge-state conversion, we achieved subdiffraction charge-state manipulation. The charge-state depletion (CSD) microscopy resolution was improved to 4.1 nm by optimizing the laser pulse sequences. Subsequently, the electron spin-state dynamics of adjacent NV centers were selectively detected via the CSD. The experimental results demonstrated that the CSD can improve the spatial resolution of the measurement of NV centers for nanoscale sensing and quantum information. The nitrogen vacancy (NV) in diamond is useful for quantum optics and spintronics due to the long coherence time of its electron spin state. Scientists in China have now used the techniques of super-resolution microscopy to optically control the charge state of an NV defect with a subdiffraction spatial resolution of 4.1 nm. Xiangdong Chen and co-workers from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei used a green (532 nm) laser beam to switch the charge state of the defect between NV0 and NV–. They achieved this manipulation on a subdiffraction scale by using specially shaped doughnut laser beams, in common with the principles of super-resolution stimulated emission depletion microscopy. This achievement represents a significant step towards nanoscale sensing and quantum information processing.

arXiv:1410.4668•Light Science & Applications•Jan 2, 2015•128 citations

Near-Infrared-Enhanced Charge-State Conversion for Low-Power Optical Nanoscopy with Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond

Xiang-Dong Chen, Shen Li, Ao Shen +4 more

Deterministic control and detection of its charge state with high spatial resolution are what make the nitrogen-vacancy (N-$V$) center in diamond appealing for nanoscale quantum sensing and biological tracking. Usually high laser power is needed, though, which induces photodamage and decreases sensitivity. By also applying a weak $n\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}e\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}a\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}r-i\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}n\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}f\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}r\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}a\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}r\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}e\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}d$ laser, the authors significantly accelerate charge-state conversion by $v\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}i\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}s\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}i\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}b\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}l\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}e$ photons, permitting decreased laser power for the subsequent nanoscopy. This could help to realize high spatial resolution and sensitivity, particularly for work on live cells.

arXiv:1610.08584•Physical Review Applied•Jan 12, 2017•34 citations

Fluorescence modulation of the nitrogen-vacancy center with competition between charge-state conversion and stimulated emission

Bo Du, Xiang-Dong Chen, Shao-Chun Zhang +4 more

The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond has been widely used for quantum information processing, nanophotonics, and biological imaging. In this work, we experimentally studied the charge-state conversion and stimulated emission of the NV center with a near-infrared (NIR) pumping laser. The competition between these two processes resulted in a nonmonotonic dependence of the NV center’s fluorescence intensity on the NIR laser power. Fluorescence enhancement was observed with a weak NIR laser, while fluorescence depletion was observed with a high-power NIR laser. It led to the nonmonotonic change of the spatial resolution with stimulated emission depletion microscopy, which has been used for subdiffraction imaging of the NV center. Our work can help to further understand the optical mechanism and extend the applications of the NV center.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Mar 26, 2020•9 citations

Optical manipulation of the charge state of nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond

Xiang-Dong Chen, Chang‐Ling Zou, Fang‐Wen Sun +1 more

The conversion between two nitrogen vacancy (NV) center charge states (NV0 and NV−) was experimentally studied with laser in the range from 378 to 492 nm. The wavelength and power dependent charge state conversion was proved to be single-photon process at short wavelength and two-photon process at long wavelength. Also, the presence of metastable state in NV− significantly affected the conversion process, which can be used to increase NV− population from 72.5% to 80.5% by applying a magnetic field under 532 nm excitation. The method can be used for improving the fidelity of charge state polarization and subsequently optimizing the quantum control with NV center and resolution in the magnetometric and biological sensoring.

Applied Physics Letters•Jul 1, 2013•73 citations

High-resolution multiphoton microscopy with a low-power continuous wave laser pump

Xiang-Dong Chen, Li Shen, Bo Du +4 more

Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) has been widely used for three-dimensional biological imaging. Here, based on the photon-induced charge state conversion process, we demonstrated a low-power high-resolution MPM with a nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond. Continuous wave green and orange lasers were used to pump and detect the two-photon charge state conversion, respectively. The power of the laser for multiphoton excitation was 40 μW. Both the axial and lateral resolutions were improved approximately 1.5 times compared with confocal microscopy. The results can be used to improve the resolution of the NV center-based quantum sensing and biological imaging.

Optics Letters•Feb 6, 2018•8 citations

Three-Dimensional Stimulated Emission Depletion Microscopy of Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond Using Continuous-Wave Light

Kyu Young Han, Katrin I. Willig, Eva Rittweger +3 more

Charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond are excellent luminescence sources for far-field fluorescence nanoscopy by stimulated emission depletion (STED). Here we show that these photostable color centers can be visualized by STED using simple continuous-wave or high repetition pulsed lasers (76 MHz) at wavelengths >700 nm for STED. Furthermore, we show that NV centers can be imaged in three dimensions (3D) inside the diamond crystal and present single-photon signatures of single color centers recorded in high density samples, demonstrating a new recording scheme for STED and related far-field nanoscopy approaches. Finally, we exemplify the potential of using nanodiamonds containing NV centers as luminescence tags in STED microscopy. Our results offer new experimental avenues in nanooptics, nanotechnology, and the life sciences.

Nano Letters•Jul 27, 2009•178 citations
Two-photon charge state conversion has been utilized to improve the spatial resolution of the sensing and imaging with the nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamonds. Here, we studied the charge state conversion of the NV center under picosecond pulsed laser excitation. With the same average power, the charge state conversion rate can be improved approximately 24 times by reducing the repetition rate of the laser pulse from 80 to 1 MHz. Subsequently, a pulsed laser with a low repetition rate was applied for the super-resolution charge state depletion microscopy of the NV center. The average power of the depletion laser was reduced approximately 5 times. It can decrease the optical heating, which affects the accuracy and sensitivity of sensing. With the assistance of an additional near-infrared laser, a resolution of 12 nm was obtained with 1 mW depletion laser power. Combined with spin manipulation, we expect our results can be used for the development of a diffraction-unlimited NV center sensing.
As a potential candidate for quantum computation and metrology, the nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond presents both challenges and opportunities resulting from charge-state conversion. By utilizing different lasers for the photon-induced charge-state conversion, we achieved subdiffraction charge-state manipulation. The charge-state depletion (CSD) microscopy resolution was improved to 4.1 nm by optimizing the laser pulse sequences. Subsequently, the electron spin-state dynamics of adjacent NV centers were selectively detected via the CSD. The experimental results demonstrated that the CSD can improve the spatial resolution of the measurement of NV centers for nanoscale sensing and quantum information. The nitrogen vacancy (NV) in diamond is useful for quantum optics and spintronics due to the long coherence time of its electron spin state. Scientists in China have now used the techniques of super-resolution microscopy to optically control the charge state of an NV defect with a subdiffraction spatial resolution of 4.1 nm. Xiangdong Chen and co-workers from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei used a green (532 nm) laser beam to switch the charge state of the defect between NV0 and NV–. They achieved this manipulation on a subdiffraction scale by using specially shaped doughnut laser beams, in common with the principles of super-resolution stimulated emission depletion microscopy. This achievement represents a significant step towards nanoscale sensing and quantum information processing.
Deterministic control and detection of its charge state with high spatial resolution are what make the nitrogen-vacancy (N-VVV) center in diamond appealing for nanoscale quantum sensing and biological tracking. Usually high laser power is needed, though, which induces photodamage and decreases sensitivity. By also applying a weak $n\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}e\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}a\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}r-i\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}n\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}f\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}r\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}a\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}r\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}e\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}d$ laser, the authors significantly accelerate charge-state conversion by $v\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}i\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}s\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}i\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}b\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}l\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}e$ photons, permitting decreased laser power for the subsequent nanoscopy. This could help to realize high spatial resolution and sensitivity, particularly for work on live cells.
The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond has been widely used for quantum information processing, nanophotonics, and biological imaging. In this work, we experimentally studied the charge-state conversion and stimulated emission of the NV center with a near-infrared (NIR) pumping laser. The competition between these two processes resulted in a nonmonotonic dependence of the NV center’s fluorescence intensity on the NIR laser power. Fluorescence enhancement was observed with a weak NIR laser, while fluorescence depletion was observed with a high-power NIR laser. It led to the nonmonotonic change of the spatial resolution with stimulated emission depletion microscopy, which has been used for subdiffraction imaging of the NV center. Our work can help to further understand the optical mechanism and extend the applications of the NV center.
The conversion between two nitrogen vacancy (NV) center charge states (NV0 and NV−) was experimentally studied with laser in the range from 378 to 492 nm. The wavelength and power dependent charge state conversion was proved to be single-photon process at short wavelength and two-photon process at long wavelength. Also, the presence of metastable state in NV− significantly affected the conversion process, which can be used to increase NV− population from 72.5% to 80.5% by applying a magnetic field under 532 nm excitation. The method can be used for improving the fidelity of charge state polarization and subsequently optimizing the quantum control with NV center and resolution in the magnetometric and biological sensoring.
Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) has been widely used for three-dimensional biological imaging. Here, based on the photon-induced charge state conversion process, we demonstrated a low-power high-resolution MPM with a nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond. Continuous wave green and orange lasers were used to pump and detect the two-photon charge state conversion, respectively. The power of the laser for multiphoton excitation was 40 μW. Both the axial and lateral resolutions were improved approximately 1.5 times compared with confocal microscopy. The results can be used to improve the resolution of the NV center-based quantum sensing and biological imaging.
Charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond are excellent luminescence sources for far-field fluorescence nanoscopy by stimulated emission depletion (STED). Here we show that these photostable color centers can be visualized by STED using simple continuous-wave or high repetition pulsed lasers (76 MHz) at wavelengths >700 nm for STED. Furthermore, we show that NV centers can be imaged in three dimensions (3D) inside the diamond crystal and present single-photon signatures of single color centers recorded in high density samples, demonstrating a new recording scheme for STED and related far-field nanoscopy approaches. Finally, we exemplify the potential of using nanodiamonds containing NV centers as luminescence tags in STED microscopy. Our results offer new experimental avenues in nanooptics, nanotechnology, and the life sciences.