A Quantum Photonic Interface for Tin-Vacancy Centers in Diamond

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a nanophotonic cavity interface for tin-vacancy centers in diamond, significantly enhancing their emission and enabling scalable quantum networks.

Contribution

It reports the first cavity enhancement of SnV centers in diamond, achieving a 40-fold increase in emission and a high Purcell factor, advancing quantum photonic integration.

Findings

40-fold increase in emission intensity

Purcell factor of 25 achieved

90% of photons channeled into the cavity mode

Abstract

The realization of quantum networks critically depends on establishing efficient, coherent light-matter interfaces. Optically active spins in diamond have emerged as promising quantum nodes based on their spin-selective optical transitions, long-lived spin ground states, and potential for integration with nanophotonics. Tin-vacancy (SnV$^{\,\textrm{-}}$) centers in diamond are of particular interest because they exhibit narrow-linewidth emission in nanostructures and possess long spin coherence times at temperatures above 1 K. However, a nanophotonic interface for SnV$^{\,\textrm{-}}$ centers has not yet been realized. Here, we report cavity enhancement of the emission of SnV$^{\,\textrm{-}}$ centers in diamond. We integrate SnV$^{\,\textrm{-}}$ centers into one-dimensional photonic crystal resonators and observe a 40-fold increase in emission intensity. The Purcell factor of the coupled system is 25, resulting in channeling of the majority of photons ($90\%$) into the cavity mode. Our results pave the way for the creation of efficient, scalable spin-photon interfaces based on SnV$^{\,\textrm{-}}$ centers in diamond.