Production of Multiple Diamond-Based Single-Photon Sources

Abstract

Fluorescent emitters in diamond are considered to be a valuable resource for fields such as quantum communication, quantum photonics, and biological imaging. In this paper, we report a wide range of narrow bandwidth (∼1.5 nm) spectral emission lines arising from different color centers at room temperature. The defects were created by chemical vapor deposition of thin diamond films grown on silica substrates seeded with nanoparticles of diamond and nickel. These fluorescent lines also possess single or few centers photon statistics. We correlate the zero-phonon lines, observed using confocal microscopy, with previously identified nickel-related centers which have been observed in high-pressure high-temperature diamond, with a Si/Ni complex and silicon vacancy defects. We compare our findings with recent results demonstrating single-photon emission in diamond associated with nickel-related centers to clarify and summarize previous studies concerning this specific dopant. The great variety of emission lines observed in the synthesized material, mainly associated with nickel-related centers, could be an important resource for applications relying on the presence of several emitters of single photons in the same sample. Moreover, the possibility of mass production of these centers in nanodiamonds in colloidal suspension may provide an important resource for biomarking and microscopy.Index Terms-Confocal microscopy, diamond defects, singlephoton emission.

Diamond Nanophotonics

“…Figure 1 summarizes the emission properties of the various single photon emitters in diamond. [22][23][24][25] and text for details). Centers for which spin manipulation of single centers has been shown are labeled with a black arrow.…”

“…However, implantation efficiencies of only 10 -6 render their use in nanophotonics highly challenging. Very recently, a multitude of color centers emitting between 700 and 900 nm in a CVD diamond film grown in the presence of nickel has been reported [23] , demonstrating that nickel related complexes have promising emission properties but their fabrication and identification remains highly challenging.…”

Diamond-based single-photon sources and their application in quantum key distribution

“…An example of such a narrow-bandwidth near-infrared-emitting centre found in a CVD nanodiamond is shown in Fig. 6.2. Very recently, Castelletto et al (2012) reported a multitude of narrow-bandwidth colour centres emitting in the near infrared (700-900 nm) in a CVD diamond fi lm grown in the presence of nickel powder during the CVD process. Thus nickel is potentially responsible for the formation of many infrared-emitting complexes; however, their exact composition and structure remain unclear, as well as how to form these complexes via ion implantation.…”

Localization of Narrowband Single Photon Emitters in Nanodiamonds

“…During CVD, a growing diamond crystal often incorporates silicon and other impurities 17 . This has been utilized extensively to engineer SiV 12 and other single photon emitters [18][19] in both individual nanodiamonds as well as polycrystalline films [20][21] . The process is, however, stochastic and improved control is needed over emitter concentrations and distributions.…”