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Quantum 2.0 Conference and Exhibition

Photon counting statistics in nitrogen vacancy centres

Iván Panadero, Hilario Espinós, Ander Tobalina, Ricardo Puebla, E. Torrontegui

Published Jan 1, 2023• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We analyze the full counting statistics of photons emitted by a Nitrogen Vacancy center (NV) under non-resonant laser excitation and resonant micro-wave (MW) control. This the detected fluorescence. Furthermore, we can investigate the time correlations of the emitted photons and elaborate detection and polarization protocols to optimize the energy and time resources while maximizing the system sensitivity.

DOI
10.1364/quantum.2023.qth2a.38

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We analyze the full counting statistics of photons emitted by a Nitrogen Vacancy center (NV) under non-resonant laser excitation and resonant micro-wave (MW) control. This the detected fluorescence. Furthermore, we can investigate the time correlations of the emitted photons and elaborate detection and polarization protocols to optimize the energy and time resources while maximizing the system sensitivity.
We analyze the full counting statistics of photons emitted by a Nitrogen Vacancy center (NV) under non-resonant laser excitation and resonant micro-wave (MW) control. This allows to build a phenomenological model which relates the relevant physical parameters with the detected fluorescence. Furthermore, we can investigate the time correlations of the emitted photons and elaborate detection and polarization protocols to optimize the energy and time resources while maximizing the system sensitivity.
We model and experimentally demonstrate the full time-dependent counting statistics of photons emitted by a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond under non-resonant laser excitation and resonant microwave control. A generalization of the quantum jump formalism for the seven electronic states involved in the fast intrinsic dynamics of an NV center provides a self-contained model that allows for the characterization of its emission and clarifies the relation between the quantum system internal states and the measurable detected photon counts. The model allows the elaboration of detection protocols to optimize the energy and time resources while maximizing the system sensitivity to magnetic-field measurements.
We model and experimentally demonstrate the full time-dependent counting statistics of photons emitted by a single nitrogen-vacancy (N\mathrm{N}N-VVV) center in diamond under nonresonant laser excitation and resonant microwave control. A generalization of the quantum jump formalism for the seven electronic states involved in the fast intrinsic dynamics of a N\mathrm{N}N-VVV center provides a self-contained model that allows the characterization of its emission and clarifies the relation between the internal states of the N\mathrm{N}N-VVV center and the measurable detected photon counts. The model allows the elaboration of detection protocols to optimize the energy and time resources while maximizing the system sensitivity to magnetic field measurements.
The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center is a defect in the structure of diamond, roughly the size of a single atom, that possesses properties that make it applicable to quantum information processing, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging, and probing biological systems. When an NV center is excited by green light of wavelength 523 nm, it emits red light of in the range from 600-800 nm tens of nanoseconds later. A confocal microscope can be used to excite and collect emitted photons from NV centers. By detecting the intensity of the emitted red photons, we can determine the quantum state of a single NV center, which is needed to build various quantum computing, sensing and imaging devices. The autocorrelation method is used to detect antibunching in the emission of red photons and ascertain that the observed photons are being emitted from a single NV center. We have built an autocorrelation device that measures, with sub-nanosecond accuracy, the statistical distribution of the arrival times of the red photons emitted from a diamond sample at a photon counter. The device can measure fixed time values with a time resolution of 120 ps FWHM. For uncorrelated sources measured for 120 seconds at the TAC full range of 100 ns, the average counts in each histogram bin were about 0.01% of the predicted value. The autocorrelation device that we have built costs about 10 times less than commercial units used by other NV researchers.
Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) centres in nanodiamonds (NDs) are excellent fluorophores. They find applications in bio-sensing, bio-imaging and as single photon emitters. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of NV centres span over the visible-near IR region (500-900 nm). The spectra consist of temperature-dependent sharp characteristic peaks of neutral and negatively charged NV centres corresponding to Zero Phonon Line (ZPL) transition. When these NV centres are coupled with microcavities, sharp ripple-like resonant modes known as Whispering Gallery Modes (WGMs) are observed in the emission spectra. The time-resolved fluorescence of NV centres are found to be dependent on excitation and emission energies. The fluorescence decay of NV centres reveals the contribution of different charge states. In addition, jet-like structures (photonic nanojet, PNJs) are observed due to the non-resonant interaction of light and NV centre-coupled microcavity. The PNJs have been used to enhance the weak Raman scattering signal.
In this work, we present a comprehensive method of characterization and optimization of laser irradiation within a confocal microscope tailored to quantum sensing experiments using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers. While confocal microscopy is well-suited for such experiments, precise control and understanding of several optical parameters are essential for reliable single-emitter studies. We investigate the laser beam intensity profile, single-photon emission statistics, fluorescence response under varying polarization and saturation conditions, spectral characteristics, and the temporal profiles of readout and reinitialization pulses. The beam quality is assessed using the beam propagation factor M2, determined via the razorblade technique. An optical fluorescence spectrum is recorded to confirm NV center emission. To confirm single-emitter operation, we measure second-order autocorrelation function g(2)(τ). Saturation behavior is analyzed by varying laser power and recording the corresponding fluorescence, while polarization dependence is studied using a half-wave (λ/2) plate. A temporal laser pulse profile is examined by modulating the power of an acousto-optic modulator. After optimizing all relevant parameters, we demonstrate the microscope’s capabilities in driving spin transitions of a single NV center. This work establishes a straightforward and effective protocol for laser excitation optimization, enhancing the performance and reliability of NV-based quantum sensors.