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Observation of the dynamic Jahn-Teller effect in the excited states of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond (0910.0494v3)

Published 2 Oct 2009 in cond-mat.mtrl-sci and quant-ph

Abstract: The optical transition linewidth and emission polarization of single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers are measured from 5 K to room temperature. Inter-excited state population relaxation is shown to broaden the zero-phonon line and both the relaxation and linewidth are found to follow a T5 dependence for T up to 100 K. This dependence indicates that the dynamic Jahn-Teller effect is the dominant dephasing mechanism for the NV optical transitions at low temperatures.

Citations (205)

Summary

  • The paper shows that the dynamic Jahn-Teller effect is the primary dephasing mechanism in NV centers, marked by a T^5 temperature dependence of zero-phonon line broadening.
  • The study employs detailed temperature-dependent optical measurements to link changes in emission polarization to a two-phonon Raman scattering process.
  • The experimental results are supported by symmetry-adapted theoretical modeling, enhancing the understanding of decoherence in quantum applications using NV diamond centers.

Dynamic Jahn-Teller Effect in NV Centers in Diamond: An Experimental Study

This paper presents a detailed experimental investigation of the dynamic Jahn-Teller (DJT) effect in nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, with key focus on the excited states. The paper systematically examines the temperature dependence of optical transition linewidths and emission polarization from 5 K to room temperature, providing significant insights into the dephasing mechanisms influencing NV center coherence properties.

The authors focus on the negatively-charged NV center, a well-studied defect in diamond, known for its advantageous spin and optical properties that make it suitable for applications in quantum information processing and high sensitivity magnetometry. The coherence properties of NV centers, crucial for these applications, are intimately tied to the dynamics of their excited states, which the paper addresses via the DJT effect paper.

Key Findings

  1. Temperature-Dependence of Linewidth and Relaxation: The experimental results demonstrate a temperature-dependent broadening of the zero-phonon line (ZPL) and a change in emission polarization for temperatures below 100 K, revealing a T5T^5 dependence. This finding is in contrast to the typical T7T^7 dependence observed in other solid-state systems, indicative of a different dominant relaxation mechanism for NV centers at low temperatures.
  2. Dynamic Jahn-Teller Effect as a Dominant Mechanism: The results suggest that the DJT effect, a two-phonon process facilitated by linear electron-phonon interactions, is the primary dephasing mechanism at low temperatures affecting the optical transitions of NV centers. This assertion is underpinned by the observed T5T^5 dependence in both polarization and ZPL linewidth data, supporting the hypothesis of an active DJT mechanism.
  3. Experimental and Theoretical Consistency: Theoretical modeling using a symmetry-adapted approach corroborates the T5T^5 dependence by suggesting a two-phonon Raman scattering process involving degenerate vibrations as the fundamental dephasing interaction. This theoretical insight provides a coherent framework for understanding the experimental observations.

Implications and Future Directions

The paper advances the understanding of the fundamental decoherence mechanisms affecting NV centers, offering new insights into the electron-phonon interactions in these systems. This knowledge has direct implications for improving the performance and accuracy of quantum information technologies that rely on NV centers, particularly in designing strategies to mitigate excited-state dephasing.

Looking forward, further experimental investigations could explore how external perturbations, such as electric fields or strain, modify the DJT effect and influence NV center coherence. Such studies could pave the way for engineering enhanced quantum systems with tailored coherence properties. Moreover, the insights gained from this paper might inspire theoretical developments in modeling electron-phonon interactions in other systems exhibiting similar symmetries and dynamics.

The paper thus marks a critical step in elucidating the complex dynamics of NV centers, with broader applications in the fields of quantum computing and solid-state physics.