Photoactivation of color centers induced by laser irradiation in ion-implanted diamond

TL;DR

This paper presents a laser-based method for directly activating split-vacancy color centers in diamond, enabling controlled, large-scale production of single-photon emitters without additional thermal processing.

Contribution

It introduces a novel optical activation protocol using continuous wave laser irradiation to create color centers in diamond with positional control.

Findings

Successful activation of Mg- and Sn-related centers in diamond

Activation achieved at both ensemble and single-photon levels

Method allows in situ monitoring and precise positioning

Abstract

Split-vacancy color centers in diamond are promising solid state platforms for the implementation of photonic quantum technologies. These luminescent defects are commonly fabricated upon low energy ion implantation and subsequent thermal annealing. Their technological uptake will require the availability of reliable methods for the controlled, large scale production of localized individual photon emitters. This task is partially achieved by controlled ion implantation to introduce selected impurities in the host material, and requires the development of challenging beam focusing or collimation procedures coupled with single-ion detection techniques. We report on protocol for the direct optical activation of split-vacancy color centers in diamond via localized processing with continuous wave laser at mW optical powers. We demonstrate the activation of photoluminescent Mg- and Sn-related centers at both the ensemble and single-photon emitter level in ion-implanted, high-purity diamond crystals without further thermal processing. The proposed lithographic method enables the activation of individual color centers at specific positions of a large area sample by means of a relatively inexpensive equipment offering the real-time, in situ monitoring of the process.