Le Sage, DavidPham, LinhBar-Gill, N.Belthangady, ChinmayLukin, MikhailYacoby, AmirWalsworth, Ronald2014-03-062012Le Sage, D., L. M. Pham, N. Bar-Gill, C. Belthangady, M. D. Lukin, A. Yacoby, and R. L. Walsworth. 2012. “Efficient Photon Detection from Color Centers in a Diamond Optical Waveguide.” Phys. Rev. B 85 (12) (March): 121202(R).1098-0121http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:11870347A common limitation of experiments using color centers in diamond is the poor photon collection efficiency of microscope objectives due to refraction at the diamond interface. We present a simple and effective technique to detect a large fraction of photons emitted by color centers within a planar diamond sample by detecting light that is guided to the edges of the diamond via total internal reflection. We describe a prototype device using this “side-collection” technique, which provides a photon collection efficiency ≈47% and a photon detection efficiency ≈39%. We apply the enhanced signal-to-noise ratio gained from side collection to ac magnetometry using ensembles of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers, and demonstrate an ac magnetic field sensitivity ≈100pT/Hz‾‾‾√, limited by added noise in the prototype side-collection device. Technical optimization should allow significant further improvements in photon collection and detection efficiency as well as subpicotesla NV-diamond magnetic field sensitivity using the side-collection technique.en-USJournal Article2014-02-24Mikhail Lukin2014-03-0610.1103/physrevb.85.121202