Optical and Zeeman spectroscopy of individual Er ion pairs in silicon

TL;DR

This study investigates the optical and magnetic interactions of individual Erbium ion pairs in silicon using a novel hybrid detection method, revealing strong coupling and site-specific properties relevant for quantum computing.

Contribution

First detailed analysis of single Er ion pairs in silicon, identifying their energy levels, site symmetry, and strong spin interactions with implications for quantum technologies.

Findings

Identified two Er3+ ion pairs with characteristic energy splitting patterns.

Characterized the Zeeman spectra to determine site symmetry and interactions.

Discovered large, 200 GHz Ising-like spin coupling between ions.

Abstract

We make the first study the optical energy level structure and interactions of pairs of single rare earth ions using a hybrid electro-optical detection method applied to Er-implanted silicon. Two examples of Er3+ pairs were identified in the optical spectrum by their characteristic energy level splitting patterns, and linear Zeeman spectra were used to characterise the sites. One pair is positively identified as two identical Er3+ ions in sites of at least C2 symmetry coupled via a large, 200 GHz Ising-like spin interaction and 1.5 GHz resonant optical interaction. Small non-Ising contributions to the spin interaction are attributed to distortion of the site measurable because of the high resolution of the single-ion measurement. The interactions are compared to previous measurements made using rare earth ensemble systems, and the application of this type of strongly coupled ion array to quantum computing is discussed.