Person:

Chu, Yiwen

We present a procedure that makes use of group theory to analyze and predict the main properties of the negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond. We focus on the relatively low temperature limit where both the spin–spin and spin–orbit effects are important to consider. We demonstrate that group theory may be used to clarify several aspects of the NV structure, such as ordering of the singlets in the ((e^2)) electronic configuration and the spin–spin and spin–orbit interactions in the ((ae)) electronic configuration. We also discuss how the optical selection rules and the response of the center to electric field can be used for spin–photon entanglement schemes. Our general formalism is applicable to a broad class of local defects in solids. The present results have important implications for applications in quantum information science and nanomagnetometry.

We demonstrate quantum interference between indistinguishable photons emitted by two nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in distinct diamond samples separated by two meters. Macroscopic solid immersion lenses are used to enhance photon collection efficiency. Quantum interference is verified by measuring a value of the second-order cross-correlation function g(2)(0)=0.35±0.04<0.5. In addition, optical transition frequencies of two separated NV centers are tuned into resonance with each other by applying external electric fields. Extension of the present approach to generate entanglement of remote solid-state qubits is discussed.

A variety of nanoscale photonic, mechanical, electronic, and optoelectronic devices require scalable thin film fabrication. Typically, the device layer is defined by thin film deposition on a substrate of a different material, and optical or electrical isolation is provided by the material properties of the substrate or by removal of the substrate. For a number of materials this planar approach is not feasible, and new fabrication techniques are required to realize complex nanoscale devices. Here, we report a three-dimensional fabrication technique based on anisotropic plasma etching at an oblique angle to the sample surface. As a proof of concept, this angled-etching methodology is used to fabricate free-standing nanoscale components in bulk single-crystal diamond, including nanobeam mechanical resonators, optical waveguides, and photonic crystal and microdisk cavities. Potential applications of the fabricated prototypes range from classical and quantum photonic devices to nanomechanical-based sensors and actuators.

The nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond is a unique quantum system that combines solid state spin qubits with coherent optical transitions. The spin states of the NV center can be initialized, read out, and controlled with RF fields at room temperature. It can be coupled to other spin systems in the environment while at the same time maintaining an extraordinary degree of quantum coherence. Experiments utilizing the NV center's spin states have led to a wide range of demonstrations from quantum error correction to high-sensitivity magnetometry. This thesis, however, focuses on creating an interface between NV centers and light in the visible domain by making use of its optical transitions. Such an interface connects the quantum system consisting of NV centers and nuclear spins to photons, which can then be used to both manipulate the spin qubits themselves or transport quantum information over large distances.

The realization of efficient optical interfaces for solid-state atom-like systems is an important problem in quantum science with potential applications in quantum communications and quantum information processing. We describe and demonstrate a technique for coupling single nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers to suspended diamond photonic crystal cavities with quality factors up to 6000. Specifically, we present an enhancement of the NV center’s zero-phonon line fluorescence by a factor of 7 in low-temperature measurements.