Dipole Emission to Surface Plasmon-Coupled Enhanced Transmission in Diamond Substrates with Nitrogen Vacancy Center- Near the Surface
At a Glance
Section titled âAt a Glanceâ| Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 2017-02-10 |
| Journal | Photonics |
| Authors | Amir Djalalian-Assl |
| Institutions | The University of Melbourne |
| Citations | 14 |
| Analysis | Full AI Review Included |
Technical Documentation & Analysis: Surface Plasmon-Coupled Enhanced Transmission
Section titled âTechnical Documentation & Analysis: Surface Plasmon-Coupled Enhanced TransmissionâThis document analyzes the research detailing the use of diamond-based plasmonic structures for enhanced quantum emission, providing specific material solutions and capabilities offered by 6CCVD.
Executive Summary
Section titled âExecutive SummaryâThe research demonstrates a novel platform utilizing a Single Crystal Diamond (SCD) substrate integrated with a metallic nano-aperture and Bullseye (BE) grating to maximize quantum emitter (QE) collection efficiency and radiative decay rate.
- Core Achievement: Successful numerical demonstration of Surface Plasmon-Coupled Enhanced Transmission (SPCET) using Nitrogen Vacancy (NV-) centers in diamond.
- Performance Metrics: Achieved a high Radiative Decay Rate Enhancement (RDRE$_{air}$) of $\approx 219$ and a Collection Efficiency (CE) up to 86% into the air half-space.
- Design Advantage: Operates in transmission mode, eliminating complex epi-illumination techniques and optically dense superstrates, simplifying device miniaturization.
- Material Requirements: Requires high-quality SCD substrates with NV- centers positioned optimally near the surface ($z_d = -3$ nm).
- Fabrication Sensitivity: Performance is highly sensitive to the metallic film thickness ($t = 110$ nm), aperture width ($w_a = 30$ nm), and the crystallographic orientation of the diamond substrate (e.g., (111) or (110) planes).
- 6CCVD Value Proposition: 6CCVD provides the necessary high-purity SCD substrates, precise polishing (Ra < 1 nm), and custom metalization required to replicate and scale this advanced quantum photonic platform.
Technical Specifications
Section titled âTechnical SpecificationsâThe following hard data points were extracted from the numerical simulations and design criteria:
| Parameter | Value | Unit | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Wavelength ($\lambda_0$) | 700 | nm | Spectral peak of NV- phonon sideband emission. |
| Diamond Refractive Index ($n_{sub}$) | 2.4 | - | Used for Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations. |
| Optimal NV- Depth ($z_d$) | -3 | nm | Position below the diamond/metal interface for maximum RDRE$_{air}$. |
| Optimal Metal Film Thickness ($t$) | 110 | nm | Silver (Ag) film thickness corresponding to the first Fabry-PĂ©rot resonance. |
| Aperture Width ($w_a$) | 30 | nm | Width of the resonant aperture. |
| Bullseye Grating Period ($P$) | 590 | nm | Optimal periodicity for Configuration C1 (N=5 grooves). |
| Maximum Radiative Decay Rate Enhancement (RDRE$_{air}$) | $\approx 219$ | - | Achieved at $z_d = -3$ nm. |
| Maximum Collection Efficiency (CE) | 86 | % | Achieved at $z_d = -5$ nm. |
| Required Fabrication Resolution | $\approx 5$ | nm | Minimum feature size required for EBL/FIB patterning. |
| Beam Divergence (FWHM) | $\approx 14$ | ° | Full Width at Half Maximum of the collimated beam. |
Key Methodologies
Section titled âKey MethodologiesâThe experimental design relies heavily on precise numerical modeling and material optimization:
- Numerical Modeling: Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations were employed in 2D (and later 3D) to model the interaction between the NV- dipole and the plasmonic structure at the target wavelength ($\lambda_0 = 700$ nm).
- Resonance Optimization: Parametric sweeps were conducted on the metallic film thickness ($t$) to identify the optimal value ($110$ nm) that maximizes the Radiative Decay Rate (RDR) via the first Fabry-PĂ©rot resonance of the aperture.
- Grating Design Criterion: A new design criterion was proposed for the Bullseye (BE) grating periodicity ($P = 590$ nm), differing significantly from the Surface Plasmon Polariton (SPP) wavelength, to maximize field intensity along the optical axis.
- Dipole Positioning: The NV- centerâs depth ($z_d$) was swept to find the maximum RDRE$_{air}$ at $z_d = -3$ nm, demonstrating the critical role of near-surface positioning for energy transfer.
- Crystallographic Alignment: The study analyzed the sensitivity of the device performance to the NV- dipolar orientation ($\mu_D$), concluding that the planar structure must be fabricated over specific diamond crystallographic planes (e.g., (111) or (110)) to align with the NV- symmetry axis (<111>).
6CCVD Solutions & Capabilities
Section titled â6CCVD Solutions & CapabilitiesâReplicating and advancing this research requires ultra-high-quality diamond substrates with precise surface control and custom metalization capabilitiesâcore specialties of 6CCVD.
| Research Requirement | 6CCVD Solution & Capability | Technical Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Substrate Material | Optical Grade Single Crystal Diamond (SCD) wafers/plates. | SCD provides the necessary low absorption, high thermal conductivity, and high refractive index ($n_{sub} = 2.4$) required for stable NV- center integration and efficient plasmonic coupling. |
| Crystallographic Precision | Custom SCD substrates available in specific orientations, including (111) and (110) planes. | Enables researchers to maximize energy transfer efficiency by aligning the plasmonic antenna with the NV- symmetry axis (<111>), a critical factor identified in the paper (Section 4). |
| Surface Quality & NV- Integration | SCD polishing achieving Ra < 1 nm. | Ultra-smooth surfaces minimize scattering losses and are essential for subsequent high-resolution patterning (EBL/FIB) and precise near-surface NV- implantation (optimal $z_d = -3$ nm). |
| Metallic Film Deposition | In-house Metalization Services: Au, Pt, Pd, Ti, W, Cu. (While Ag is used in the paper, 6CCVD can deposit adhesion layers (Ti) and protective/alternative plasmonic metals (Au, Pt) with high precision.) | Ensures high-quality, uniform metallic films (e.g., $t = 110$ nm) are deposited directly onto the polished SCD surface, crucial for achieving the required Fabry-PĂ©rot resonances and stability. |
| Custom Dimensions | Custom plates/wafers up to 125 mm (PCD) and substrates up to 10 mm thick. SCD thicknesses from 0.1 ”m to 500 ”m. | Supports scaling of the bullseye antenna array design for large-scale quantum device integration and manufacturing feasibility. |
| Global Logistics | Global shipping (DDU default, DDP available). | Ensures rapid and reliable delivery of sensitive materials worldwide for time-critical research projects. |
Engineering Support: 6CCVDâs in-house PhD team can assist with material selection for similar Surface Plasmon-Coupled Enhanced Transmission (SPCET) projects, focusing on optimizing crystallographic orientation, surface preparation, and membrane fabrication for high-yield quantum emitter integration.
For custom specifications or material consultation, visit 6ccvd.com or contact our engineering team directly.
View Original Abstract
For distances less 10 nm, a total energy transfer occurs from a quantum emitter to a nearby metallic surface, producing evanescent surface waves that are plasmonic in nature. When investigating a metallic nanohole supported on an optically dense substrate (such as diamond with nitrogen vacancy center), the scattering occurred preferentially from the diamond substrate towards the air for dipole distances less 10 nm from the aperture. In addition, an enhancement to the dipoleâs radiative decay rate was observed when resonance of the aperture matched the emitters wavelength. The relationship between an emitter and a nearby resonant aperture is shown to be that of the resonance energy transfer where the emitter acts as a donor and the hole as an acceptor. In conjunction with the preferential scattering behavior, this has led to the proposed device that operates in transmission mode, eliminating the need for epi-illumination techniques and optically denser than air superstrates in the collection cycle, hence making the design simpler and more suitable for miniaturization. A design criterion for the surface grating is also proposed to improve the performance, where the period of the grating differs significantly from the wavelength of the surface plasmon polaritons. Response of the proposed device is further studied with respect to changes in nitrogen vacancyâs position and its dipolar orientation to identify the crystallographic planes of diamond over which the performance of the device is maximized.
Tech Support
Section titled âTech SupportâOriginal Source
Section titled âOriginal SourceâReferences
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