Atomic-scale imaging and charge state manipulation of NV centers by scanning tunneling microscopy

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2504.13280v1
• Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2025 18:43:56 GMT
• Title: Atomic-scale imaging and charge state manipulation of NV centers by scanning tunneling microscopy
• Authors: Arjun Raghavan, Seokjin Bae, Nazar Delegan, F. Joseph Heremans, Vidya Madhavan,
• Abstract summary: Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond are among the most promising solid-state qubit candidates.<n>Despite significant progress in the field, atomic-scale characterization and control of individual NV centers have remained elusive.<n>We present a novel approach utilizing a conductive graphene capping layer to enable direct imaging and manipulation of $NV-$ defects.
• Score: 0.0
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Abstract: Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond are among the most promising solid-state qubit candidates, owing to their exceptionally long spin coherence times, efficient spin-photon coupling, room-temperature operation, and steadily advancing fabrication and integration techniques. Despite significant progress in the field, atomic-scale characterization and control of individual NV centers have remained elusive. In this work, we present a novel approach utilizing a conductive graphene capping layer to enable direct imaging and manipulation of $NV^{-}$ defects via scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). By investigating over 40 individual $NV^{-}$ centers, we identify their spectroscopic signatures and spatial configurations. Our dI/dV conductance spectra reveal the ground state approximately 300 meV below the Fermi level. Additionally, density-of-states mapping uncovers a two-lobed wavefunction aligned along the [111] crystallographic direction. Remarkably, we demonstrate the ability to manipulate the charge state of the NV centers from $NV^{-}$ to $NV^{0}$ through STM tip-induced gating. This work represents a significant advancement in the atomic-scale understanding and engineering of NV centers, paving the way for future quantum device development.

Related papers

• Ultra-high strained diamond spin register with coherent optical link [45.40010446596688]
  Solid-state spin defects, such as color centers in diamond, are among the most promising candidates for scalable and integrated quantum technologies. We show that leveraging an ultra-high strained silicon-vacancy center inside a nanodiamond allows us to coherently and efficiently control its electron spin, while mitigating phonon-induced dephasing at liquid helium temperature. Our work paves the way for future integration of quantum network registers into conventional, well-established photonics and hybrid quantum communication systems.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-09-19T10:46:24Z)
• Enhanced Spectral Density of a Single Germanium Vacancy Center in a Nanodiamond by Cavity-Integration [35.759786254573896]
  Color centers in diamond, among them the negatively-charged germanium vacancy (GeV$-$), are promising candidates for many applications of quantum optics. We demonstrate the transfer of a nanodiamond containing a single ingrown GeV- center with excellent optical properties to an open Fabry-P'erot microcavity.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-07-03T10:33:06Z)
• All-Optical Nuclear Quantum Sensing using Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond [52.77024349608834]
  Microwave or radio-frequency driving poses a significant limitation for miniaturization, energy-efficiency and non-invasiveness of quantum sensors. We overcome this limitation by demonstrating a purely optical approach to coherent quantum sensing. Our results pave the way for highly compact quantum sensors to be employed for magnetometry or gyroscopy applications.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-12-14T08:34:11Z)
• Impact of surface and laser-induced noise on the spectral stability of implanted nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond [0.0]
  quantum network technologies utilize the nitrogen vacancy center in diamond. We create single NV centers by $15$N ion implantation and high-temperature vacuum annealing. Long-term stability of the NV$-$ charge state and emission frequency is demonstrated.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-05-20T03:03:51Z)
• Low temperature photo-physics of single NV centers in diamond [43.55994393060723]
  We investigate the magnetic field dependent photo-physics of Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond under cryogenic conditions. We observe significant reductions in the NV photoluminescence rate, which indicate a marked decrease in the optical readout efficiency of the NV's ground state spin. Our results offer new insights into the structure of the NVs' excited states and a new tool for their effective characterization.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-05-17T18:00:02Z)
• Multidimensional cluster states using a single spin-photon interface coupled strongly to an intrinsic nuclear register [48.7576911714538]
  Photonic cluster states are a powerful resource for measurement-based quantum computing and loss-tolerant quantum communication. We propose the generation of multi-dimensional lattice cluster states using a single, efficient spin-photon interface coupled strongly to a nuclear register.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-04-26T14:41:01Z)
• Magnetic field-assisted spectral decomposition and imaging of charge states of NV centers in diamond [0.0]
  We report two spectroscopy-based deconvolution methods to create charge state mapping images of ensembles of $NV$ centers in diamond. Results help us to determine the spatial distribution of the $NV$ charge states in a diamond sample.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-03-23T19:32:43Z)
• Fabrication of $^{15}\textrm{NV}^{-}$ centers in diamond using a deterministic single ion implanter [0.0]
  Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) centers in diamond are a platform for several important quantum technologies. We demonstrate the creation of NV centers by implantation using a deterministic single ion source.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-01-06T11:32:42Z)
• Hybrid quantum photonics based on artificial atoms placed inside one hole of a photonic crystal cavity [47.187609203210705]
  Hybrid quantum photonics with SiV$-$-containing nanodiamonds inside one hole of a one-dimensional, free-standing, Si$_3$N$_4$-based photonic crystal cavity is presented. The resulting photon flux is increased by more than a factor of 14 as compared to free-space. Results mark an important step to realize quantum network nodes based on hybrid quantum photonics with SiV$-$- center in nanodiamonds.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-12-21T17:22:25Z)
• A multiconfigurational study of the negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond [55.58269472099399]
  Deep defects in wide band gap semiconductors have emerged as leading qubit candidates for realizing quantum sensing and information applications. Here we show that unlike single-particle treatments, the multiconfigurational quantum chemistry methods, traditionally reserved for atoms/molecules, accurately describe the many-body characteristics of the electronic states of these defect centers.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-08-24T01:49:54Z)
• Robust All-Optical Single-Shot Readout of NV Centers in Diamond [5.9403120410554555]
  We show an all-optical spin readout scheme that achieves single-shot fidelity even if photon collection is poor. The scheme is based on spin-dependent excitation at cryogenic temperature combined with spin-to-charge conversion. We prove this technique to work on shallow implanted NV centers as they are required for sensing and scalable NV-based quantum registers.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-06-04T15:24:03Z)
• Narrow-linewidth tin-vacancy centers in a diamond waveguide [5.229236508805071]
  Negatively charged tin-vacancy (SnV$-$) centers in diamond have emerged as promising candidates for quantum emitters. We demonstrate the coupling of SnV$-$ centers to a nanophotonic waveguide.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-05-20T22:55:03Z)

This list is automatically generated from the titles and abstracts of the papers in this site.

This site does not guarantee the quality of this site (including all information) and is not responsible for any consequences.