Quantum optical master equation for solid-state quantum emitters

TL;DR

This paper develops a quantum optical master equation model for defect centers in crystals, capturing their electronic and vibrational dynamics, and applies it to analyze the spectra of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified yet comprehensive master equation approach for solid-state quantum emitters, including vibronic interactions and spectral analysis methods.

Findings

The eigensystem solution enables detailed dynamical analysis.

The model accurately describes spectral features of NV centers.

Applicable to various solid-state quantum emitters.

Abstract

We provide an elementary description of the dynamics of defect centers in crystals in terms of a quantum optical master equation which includes spontaneous decay and a simplified vibronic interaction with lattice phonons. We present the general solution of the dynamical equation by means of the eigensystem of the Liouville operator and exemplify the usage of this damping basis to calculate the dynamics of the electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom and to provide an analysis of the spectra of scattered light. The dynamics and spectral features are discussed with respect to the applicability for color centers, especially for negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond.