Incorporation and control of defects with quantum functionality during sublimation growth of cubic silicon carbide

Abstract: Superconductor based quantum computing has the major drawback of working temperatures which require liquid helium for cooling. A promising approach to overcome this obstacle for quantum technologies is based on deep level defects in semiconductors, with the nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond being the most prominent example. Unfortunately, diamond in sufficient quality is scarce, which motivated efforts to find similar defects in silicon carbide (SiC). So far, many reports focus on investigations of point defects in irradiated 3C-SiC and as grown material. However, the investigated defects are more or less a product of coincidence for both. While in irradiated material the intentional generation of specific defects is rather challenging, in as purchased material the defects are actually more an unintentional by product of growth and process conditions. This work proposes a new route: the incorporation and control of deep level defects in 3C-SiC by epitaxial sublimation growth. The observed defects in the near infrared show bright luminescence in the 175 K/200 K regime and remain excitable up to 300 K. This could enable working temperatures above the cryogenic limit. The joint origin of all detected defects is assigned to the carbon vacancy.