# Excitation of nanowire surface plasmons by silicon vacancy centers in nanodiamonds

## TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the excitation of surface plasmon modes in silver nanowires using silicon vacancy centers in nanodiamonds, revealing coupling effects and lifetime changes, advancing quantum plasmonic research.

## Contribution

It is the first to experimentally show SiV center excitation of nanowire surface plasmons and analyze their coupling effects.

## Key findings

- Coupling of SiV fluorescence to surface plasmons observed
- Change in SiV lifetime indicates interaction
- Potential methods for enhancing coupling discussed

## Abstract

Silicon vacancy (SiV) centers in diamonds have emerged as a very promising candidate for quantum emitter due to their narrow emission line resulting in their indistinguishability. While many different quantum emitters have already been used for excitation of various propagating plasmonic modes, the corresponding exploitation of SiV centers remained so far uncharted territory. Here, we report on excitation of surface plasmon modes supported by silver nanowires using SiV centers in nanodiamonds. The coupling of SiV center fluorescence to surface plasmons is observed, when a nanodiamond situated close to a nanowire is illuminated by the pump, as radiated emission from the distal nanowire end. The effect of coupling is also seen as a change in the SiV center lifetime. Finally, we discuss possible avenues for strengthening the SiV center coupling to surface plasmon modes.