Photophysics of GaN single photon sources in the visible spectral range

TL;DR

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of GaN single photon emitters, revealing their spectral diffusion, brightness, lifetimes, and polarization properties at cryogenic and room temperatures, establishing a foundation for future GaN-based quantum technologies.

Contribution

It offers the first detailed photophysical characterization of GaN SPEs, including spectral diffusion, brightness, decay rates, and polarization, advancing understanding of their fundamental properties.

Findings

Emission lines are broadened by spectral diffusion at 4 K.

Maximum brightness of ~427 kCounts/s at room temperature.

Radiative and non-radiative lifetimes are quantified at RT.

Abstract

In this work, we present a detailed photophysical analysis of recently-discovered optically stable, single photon emitters (SPEs) in Gallium Nitride (GaN). Temperature-resolved photoluminescence measurements reveal that the emission lines at 4 K are three orders of magnitude broader than the transform-limited widths expected from excited state lifetime measurements. The broadening is ascribed to ultra-fast spectral diffusion. Continuing the photophysics study on several emitters at room temperature (RT), a maximum average brightness of ~427 kCounts/s is measured. Furthermore, by determining the decay rates of emitters undergoing three-level optical transitions, radiative and non-radiative lifetimes are calculated at RT. Finally, polarization measurements from 14 emitters are used to determine visibility as well as dipole orientation of defect systems within the GaN crystal. Our results underpin some of the fundamental properties of SPE in GaN both at cryogenic and RT, and define the benchmark for future work in GaN-based single-photon technologies.