Sidebands in Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance Signals of Nitrogen Vacancy Centers in Diamond

TL;DR

This paper investigates the origins of sidebands in ODMR signals of NV centers in diamond, revealing hyperfine interactions and simultaneous spin flips as key mechanisms, aiding device optimization.

Contribution

It identifies the specific physical mechanisms behind observed side features in ODMR signals of NV centers, combining experimental data with theoretical calculations.

Findings

Sidebands separated by ~130 MHz are due to hyperfine coupling with C-13 nuclear spins.

Sidebands at ~40, 260, 300 MHz originate from simultaneous spin flips of NV centers and nitrogen atoms.

Results align with theoretical models, enhancing understanding of ODMR line shapes.

Abstract

We study features in the optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) signals associated with negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers coupled to other paramagnetic impurities in diamond. Our results are important for understanding ODMR line shapes and for optimization of devices based on NV centers. We determine the origins of several side features to the unperturbed NV magnetic resonance by studying their magnetic field and microwave power dependences. Side resonances separated by around 130 MHz are due to hyperfine coupling between NV centers and nearest-neighbor C-13 nuclear spins. Side resonances separated by approximately {40, 260, 300} MHz are found to originate from simultaneous spin flipping of NV centers and single substitutional nitrogen atoms. All results are in agreement with the presented theoretical calculations.