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Designing a cavity-mediated quantum cphase gate between NV spin qubits in diamond

MetadataDetails
Publication Date2017-05-16
JournalPhysical review. B./Physical review. B
AuthorsGuido Burkard, V. O. Shkolnikov, D. D. Awschalom
InstitutionsUniversity of Konstanz, University of Chicago
Citations16
AnalysisFull AI Review Included

Technical Documentation & Analysis: Cavity-Mediated Quantum CPHASE Gate in Diamond

Section titled “Technical Documentation & Analysis: Cavity-Mediated Quantum CPHASE Gate in Diamond”

This document analyzes the requirements and achievements detailed in the research paper, “A cavity-mediated quantum CPHASE gate between NV spin qubits in diamond,” and maps them directly to 6CCVD’s advanced MPCVD diamond material solutions.


The research validates a theoretical and numerical model for achieving a universal, ultra-fast two-qubit Controlled-Phase (CPHASE) gate using Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers embedded in a common optical cavity within diamond.

  • Universal QIP: The CPHASE gate, combined with standard single-qubit operations, forms a universal set for arbitrary quantum computation.
  • Ultra-Fast Operation: Gate times ($\tau$) of approximately 200 ns are achieved, nearly three orders of magnitude faster than typical NV spin coherence times ($T_{2} \sim 10$ ”s).
  • Material Requirement: Successful implementation relies critically on high-quality diamond substrates suitable for integrated Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) architectures.
  • Critical Q Factor: The scheme requires optical cavities with a quality factor $Q \sim 10^{5}$ to maintain a photon loss rate compatible with the 200 ns gate time.
  • Scalability: The architecture is inherently scalable, limited only by the extension of the common optical cavity, enabling coupling between distant NV centers.
  • 6CCVD Value Proposition: 6CCVD provides the ultra-low-defect, high-purity Single Crystal Diamond (SCD) required for fabricating high-Q photonic crystal cavities and maximizing NV spin coherence times.

The following hard data points were extracted from the numerical simulations and physical requirements detailed in the paper:

ParameterValueUnitContext
Target Gate Time ($\tau$)200nsCPHASE operation speed
Required Spin Coherence Time ($T_{2}$)10”sMinimum required coherence time
Required Cavity Quality Factor ($Q$)105DimensionlessMinimum Q factor for $\tau \sim 200$ ns
Maximum Laser-NV Coupling ($g_{L,max}$)24MHzUsed in numerical simulation
NV-Cavity Coupling ($g_{c}$)100MHzUsed in numerical simulation
Laser Detuning ($\delta_{L}$)1640MHzUsed in numerical simulation
Cavity Detuning ($\delta_{c}$)400MHzUsed in numerical simulation
GS Zero-Field Splitting ($D_{gs}$)2.88GHzNV ground state property
ES Zero-Field Splitting ($D_{es}$)1.44GHzNV excited state property
Operating Temperature< 20KRequired for excited state level stability
Magnetic Field ($B_{0}$)$\sim 1000$GNear GS level crossing for qubit basis selection

The proposed CPHASE gate relies on specific material integration and operational parameters:

  1. Substrate Preparation: Utilizing high-quality diamond substrates suitable for embedding NV centers and fabricating integrated optical cavities (e.g., photonic crystals).
  2. Qubit Basis Selection: Applying a magnetic field ($B_{0} \sim 1000$ G) to achieve near-degeneracy between the $m_{s} = 0$ and $m_{s} = -1$ ground states, which serve as the two-qubit basis.
  3. Raman Transition Coupling: Employing two identical, off-resonant laser fields ($\omega_{L1}, \omega_{L2}$) to couple the NV spin to the common cavity mode via Raman transitions involving the NV excited states (ES).
  4. Spin-Dependent Scattering: The gate mechanism relies on the difference in zero-field splittings between the GS and ES, leading to unequal scattering matrix elements for the $m_{s} = 0$ and $m_{s} = -1$ states.
  5. Adiabatic Control: Implementing laser pulses with long ramp times (e.g., 133 ns FWHM Gaussian convolution) to ensure adiabatic switching, preventing residual population in the excited state after the gate operation.
  6. Gate Validation: The resulting unitary operation is confirmed to be a CNOT/CPHASE gate through the calculation of Makhlin invariants ($G_{1}=0, G_{2}=1$).

The successful implementation and scaling of this cavity-mediated quantum gate require diamond materials optimized for both long spin coherence ($T_{2}$) and high-Q optical integration. 6CCVD is uniquely positioned to supply the necessary substrates and customization services.

The requirement for long $T_{2}$ times ($\sim 10$ ”s) and the need to fabricate high-Q photonic crystal cavities directly within the diamond lattice mandate the use of the highest purity, lowest strain material available.

Material Solution6CCVD GradeRelevance to Research
Single Crystal Diamond (SCD)Optical Grade (Ultra-High Purity)Essential for maximizing $T_{2}$ coherence times by minimizing nitrogen and defect incorporation. Low strain is critical for stable ES levels and high-Q cavity performance.
Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD)N/APCD is unsuitable for this application due to high defect density, grain boundaries, and high optical loss, which would destroy the required $Q \sim 10^{5}$.
Boron-Doped Diamond (BDD)N/ABDD is typically used for electrochemical or thermal applications; the high boron concentration would quench the NV spin coherence.

The integration of NV centers with photonic crystal cavities requires precise material engineering and post-growth processing capabilities, all offered by 6CCVD:

  • Custom Dimensions: 6CCVD supplies SCD plates and wafers up to 125mm in size, enabling the scalable fabrication of large arrays of coupled NV-cavity systems, as suggested for future architectures.
  • Thickness Control: We provide SCD layers from 0.1 ”m up to 500 ”m, allowing researchers to select the optimal thickness for subsequent etching processes required for photonic crystal fabrication.
  • Surface Finish: Achieving high-Q factors in integrated cavities requires extremely low surface roughness. 6CCVD offers SCD polishing down to Ra < 1 nm, ensuring minimal scattering loss during cavity fabrication.
  • Metalization Services: While the CPHASE gate itself is optical, scalable QIP architectures often require integrated microwave or RF control lines. 6CCVD offers in-house custom metalization (including Au, Pt, Ti, W, Cu) for creating necessary control electrodes or gates.
  • Substrate Engineering: For architectures requiring NV centers near the surface, 6CCVD can provide substrates with controlled NV implantation and annealing protocols, or high-quality SCD layers grown on thick substrates (up to 10mm).

The successful replication and extension of this research—especially concerning the trade-off between cavity $Q$ factor, detuning ($\delta_{c}$), and gate speed—requires deep material expertise.

6CCVD’s in-house PhD team specializes in the growth and characterization of quantum-grade diamond. We can assist researchers in material selection, optimizing defect density, and minimizing strain for similar Cavity QED and Quantum Gate projects. Our expertise ensures the supplied SCD substrates meet the stringent requirements for long $T_{2}$ coherence and high-fidelity photonic integration.

For custom specifications or material consultation, visit 6ccvd.com or contact our engineering team directly.

View Original Abstract

While long spin coherence times and efficient single-qubit quantum control\nhave been implemented successfully in nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond,\nthe controlled coupling of remote NV spin qubits remains challenging. Here, we\npropose and analyze a controlled-phase (CPHASE) gate for the spins of two NV\ncenters embedded in a common optical cavity and driven by two off-resonant\nlasers. In combination with previously demonstrated single-qubit gates, CPHASE\nallows for arbitrary quantum computations. The coupling of the NV spin to the\ncavity mode is based upon Raman transitions via the NV excited states and can\nbe controlled with the laser intensities and relative phase. We find\ncharacteristic laser frequencies at which the scattering amplitude of a laser\nphoton into the cavity mode is strongly dependent on the NV center spin. A\nscattered photon can be reabsorbed by another selectively driven NV center and\ngenerate a conditional phase (CPHASE) gate. Gate times around 200 ns are within\nreach, nearly three orders of magnitude shorter than typical NV spin coherence\ntimes of around 10 microseconds. The separation between the two interacting NV\ncenters is only limited by the extension of the cavity.\n