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Laser Physics Letters

Optical localization of a nitrogen-vacancy center in three-dimensional space via probe absorption

Taoxiu Cao

Published Aug 13, 2020• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract We demonstrate the three-dimensional localization of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in nanodiamond by the use of position-dependent standing-wave laser fields in an external magnetic field. We show that various localization phenomena including cask-like, disc-like, cylinder-like, and sphere-like patterns can be achieved by monitoring the probe absorption spectrum in two different coupling formalisms. By selecting an appropriate combination of system parameters, we can localize an individual NV center within a subspace at a deterministic position, which is a consequence of quantum interference. Furthermore, this deterministic positional control of coherent NV centers may have potential applications in NV-based nanostructures, such as sensing and quantum information-processing devices.

DOI
10.1088/1612-202x/aba906

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Abstract We demonstrate the three-dimensional localization of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in nanodiamond by the use of position-dependent standing-wave laser fields in an external magnetic field. We show that various localization phenomena including cask-like, disc-like, cylinder-like, and sphere-like patterns can be achieved by monitoring the probe absorption spectrum in two different coupling formalisms. By selecting an appropriate combination of system parameters, we can localize an individual NV center within a subspace at a deterministic position, which is a consequence of quantum interference. Furthermore, this deterministic positional control of coherent NV centers may have potential applications in NV-based nanostructures, such as sensing and quantum information-processing devices.
In this letter, we investigate the 2D probe absorption spectrum in nanodiamond nitrogen vacancy centers under optical excitation. Different cases of the standing waves–matter interaction are considered to study the spatial dependence of probe absorption. It is shown that due to the quantum interference between different quantum paths in this system, various structures of localization as lattice-like, cross-like, circular-like and ' '-like patterns can be designed by adjusting the detuning intensities and Zeeman shift.
We demonstrate three-dimensional localization of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond by combining nitrogen doping during growth with a post-growth 12C implantation technique that facilitates vacancy formation in the crystal. We show that the NV density can be controlled by the implantation dose without necessitating increase of the nitrogen incorporation. By implanting a large 12C dose through nanoscale apertures, we can localize an individual NV center within a volume of (∼180 nm)3 at a deterministic position while repeatedly preserving a coherence time (T2) > 300 μs. This deterministic position control of coherent NV centers enables integration into NV-based nanostructures to realize scalable spin-sensing devices as well as coherent spin coupling mediated by photons and phonons.
Individual, scannable nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in single crystal diamond nanostructures enable nanoscale, quantitative imaging of magnetic stray fields. Nevertheless, important parameters like distance between the NV center and the sample and the orientation of the NV high symmetry axis are often not known precisely and enter data evaluation as free fitting parameters. We here use scanning NV imaging on micro-patterned, perpendicularly magnetized stripes and discs. From these measurements, we directly infer NV - sample distance d_NV and the NV's azimuthal orientation without the need for an external vector magnet control. We determine d_NV = 31.5 nm, while we infer the azimuthal orientation with a precision of 3°. We additionally employ commercially available silicon needles to image the apex topography of our diamond nanostructures to detect surface contamination. Simultaneously, monitoring NV fluorescence as a function of the needle's position allows us to estimate the lateral placement of the NV inside the diamond nanostructure.
A nanodiamond embedding a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center has outstanding optical properties since it is readily manipulated and coupled with nanophotonic devices. Reliable methods to identify the orientation of an NV axis on photonic platforms are important to precisely estimate the coupling efficiency between them. We report on a method to identify the orientation of an NV axis. The proposed method consists of a single dataset of optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) measurements taken while rotating the magnetic field in a plane and a single ODMR measurement taken while applying the magnetic field in a single direction. By applying this method to a nanodiamond with a single NV center on a microscope coverslip, the orientation of the NV center is determined to be (θNV, ϕNV)=(144.6°, 52.9°) when the magnetic field is scanned in the xy-plane. When the magnetic field is scanned in the xz-plane, it is determined to be (θNV, ϕNV)=(148.0°, 45.7°) which is consistent within 5.2°. This technique will advance progress toward realizing photon-based quantum networks and quantum communication.
In this paper, we explore the spatially dependent absorption properties of a GeV color center in diamond interacting with standing-wave fields. By investigating the conditional position dependence of the probe field's absorption spectra, we demonstrate the impact of various system parameters, including Rabi frequencies and detuning, on the spatial localization of the absorption profile. Through numerical simulations, we observe distinct patterns such as cross-like, lattice-like, and wave-like distributions in two dimensions, as well as hourglass and spherical shapes in three-dimensional space. These patterns can be finely tuned by adjusting the field intensities and detuning conditions. Notably, we show that the absorption profile can be localized in specific regions of space, with detection probabilities controlled by the parameters of the SW fields. Our findings highlight the potential for controlling light-matter interactions in the GeV color center scheme, offering a powerful tool for applications in quantum sensing, imaging, and high-resolution measurements.
Abstract Nanophotonic devices in color center-containing hosts provide efficient readout, control, and entanglement of the embedded emitters. Yet control over color center formation – in number, position, and coherence – in nanophotonic devices remains a challenge to scalability. Here, we report a controlled creation of highly coherent diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers with nanoscale three-dimensional localization in prefabricated nanostructures with high yield. Combining nitrogen δ -doping during chemical vapor deposition diamond growth and localized electron irradiation, we form shallow NVs registered to the center of diamond nanopillars with wide tunability over NV number. We report a positioning precision of ~ 4 nm in depth and 46(1) nm laterally in 280 nm-diameter pillars (102(2) nm in bulk diamond). We reliably form single NV centers with long spin coherence times (average T2Hahn=98 μs{T}_{2}^{Hahn}=98\, \mu {{{\rm{s}}}}T2Hahn​=98μs T 2 H a h n = 98 μ s ) and higher average photoluminescence compared to NV centers randomly positioned in pillars. Our method can improve the performance of various NV-based devices. In the realm of magnetic sensing, we achieve a 3 × improved yield of NV centers with single electron-spin sensitivity over conventional implantation-based methods. Our high-yield defect creation method will enable scalable production of solid-state defect sensors and processors.