Colossal photon bunching in quasiparticle-mediated nanodiamond cathodoluminescence
At a Glance
Section titled âAt a Glanceâ| Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 2018-02-15 |
| Journal | Physical review. B./Physical review. B |
| Authors | Matthew Feldman, Eugene Dumitrescu, Denzel Bridges, Matthew F. Chisholm, Roderick B. Davidson |
| Institutions | University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Vanderbilt University |
| Citations | 34 |
| Analysis | Full AI Review Included |
Technical Documentation & Analysis: Colossal Photon Bunching in Nanodiamond CL
Section titled âTechnical Documentation & Analysis: Colossal Photon Bunching in Nanodiamond CLâThis document analyzes the research paper âColossal photon bunching in quasiparticle-mediated nanodiamond cathodoluminescenceâ (arXiv:1710.06483v2) to provide technical specifications and align the material requirements with 6CCVDâs advanced MPCVD diamond capabilities.
Executive Summary
Section titled âExecutive SummaryâThis research demonstrates unprecedented control over photon statistics in nanodiamond Nitrogen Vacancy (NV0) centers, achieving colossal photon bunching critical for quantum information science.
- Record Bunching: Observation of maximum second-order photon correlation function g(2)(0) = 49.0, an order of magnitude greater than previous room-temperature reports.
- Spectral Dependence: Bunching is exclusively mediated by the NV0 phonon sideband (PSB), confirming faster phonon-mediated recombination dynamics. Negligible bunching was detected at the Zero-Phonon Line (ZPL).
- Excitation Method: Cathodoluminescence (CL) driven by a 60-keV electron beam in an aberration-corrected Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM) was used to achieve nanoscale spatial resolution.
- Plasmonic Interaction: Coupling nanodiamonds to a single-crystal Ag nanoplate resulted in a 16-fold increase in CL intensity, attributed to SPP-NV center scattering, but correlated with a 3-fold reduction in photon bunching.
- Modeling Validation: A phenomenological Monte Carlo model successfully reproduced the monotonic decrease of g(2)(0) with increasing electron beam current and validated the spectral distribution of bunching.
- Future Impact: The ability to control g(2)(Ï) via quasiparticle interactions provides a critical tool for developing high-efficiency nonlinear nanophotonics and steady-state quantum entanglement schemes.
Technical Specifications
Section titled âTechnical SpecificationsâThe following hard data points were extracted from the experimental results:
| Parameter | Value | Unit | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Photon Bunching (g(2)(0)) | 49.0 (± 0.9) | Dimensionless | Maximum observed value across 66 measurements. |
| Mean Fitted Lifetime (Ïeff) | 21.1 (± 0.9) | ns | Lifetime of NV0 centers in nanodiamonds. |
| Electron Beam Energy | 60 | keV | Operating energy of the VG601 STEM. |
| Electron Beam Current Range | 0.2 - 2.1 | nA | Range used for g(2)(Ï) statistics. |
| CL Intensity Enhancement (Plasmonic) | 16 | fold | Ag-NV hybrid vs. uncoupled NV ensemble (at 0.6 nA). |
| Bunching Reduction (Plasmonic) | 3 | fold | Correlated with 16-fold intensity increase. |
| Nanodiamond Diameter | 120 | nm | Containing approximately 1200 NV0 centers per particle. |
| Silver Nanoplate Thickness | 100 | nm | Substrate used for plasmonic coupling. |
| NV0 Zero-Phonon Line (ZPL) | 575 | nm | Wavelength used for ZPL filtering (5 nm bandwidth). |
| Phonon Sideband (PSB) Filter | 610 | nm | Long-pass filter (LP610) used to isolate PSB emission. |
Key Methodologies
Section titled âKey MethodologiesâThe experiment relied on precise material integration and advanced electron microscopy techniques to achieve spectrally and spatially resolved photon correlation measurements.
- Material Preparation: Nanodiamonds (120 nm diameter, containing ~1200 NV0 centers) were dropcast onto a single-crystal silver nanoplate (100 nm thick, 100 ”m wide).
- Excitation System: An aberration-corrected VG601 STEM was utilized, operating at room temperature with an electron energy of 60-keV.
- CL Collection Setup: A 2-sr Aluminum parabolic mirror, integrated into the STEM, collected the collimated cathodoluminescence (CL).
- Correlation Measurement: The CL was analyzed using a Hanbury Brown-Twiss (HB-T) interferometer setup, employing two single-photon counting modules (SPCMs) and a HydraHarp 400 time-interval analyzer (256 ps bin sizes).
- Spectral Isolation:
- The NV0 ZPL was isolated using a 575-nm bandpass filter (5 nm bandwidth).
- The phonon sideband (PSB) was isolated using a 610-nm long-pass filter (LP610).
- Data Analysis: The second-order correlation function g(2)(Ï) was calculated and analyzed using self-consistent Bayesian regression and compared against a phenomenological Monte Carlo model incorporating multiple radiative transitions.
6CCVD Solutions & Capabilities
Section titled â6CCVD Solutions & CapabilitiesâThe reported research highlights the critical need for high-quality diamond materials and precise integration capabilities to advance quantum nanophotonics. 6CCVD is uniquely positioned to supply the next generation of custom diamond substrates required to replicate and extend this work, particularly in optimizing Purcell factors and controlling quasiparticle interactions.
| Research Requirement/Challenge | 6CCVD Solution & Capability | Technical Advantage for Quantum Research |
|---|---|---|
| High-Purity Diamond Host | Optical Grade Single Crystal Diamond (SCD) | Our SCD material offers extremely low strain and minimal intrinsic defects, ensuring maximum NV center stability and coherence time, essential for high-fidelity quantum applications. |
| Substrate Size & Thickness Control | Custom Dimensions and Thickness | We provide SCD and PCD plates/wafers up to 125 mm in diameter. Thickness control is precise, ranging from 0.1 ”m (for thin film CL/STEM studies) up to 500 ”m. |
| Optimizing Plasmonic Coupling | Advanced Polishing and Metalization | SCD surfaces are polished to Ra < 1 nm, and inch-size PCD to Ra < 5 nm, enabling high-resolution lithography for plasmonic metamaterials. |
| Integrated Plasmonic Structures | In-House Custom Metalization | We offer internal deposition of critical metals (Au, Pt, Pd, Ti, W, Cu). This capability allows researchers to fabricate the optimized Ag or Au nanostructures necessary to achieve high Purcell factors (>1000) and control g(2)(Ï). |
| Tuning Recombination Dynamics | Boron-Doped Diamond (BDD) Films | BDD allows for precise control over the Fermi level, which is critical for stabilizing the NV charge state (NV- vs. NV0) and modifying the local phonon environment to tune recombination dynamics and bunching behavior. |
| Global Project Support | Global Shipping and Engineering Team | We offer global shipping (DDU default, DDP available) and direct consultation with our in-house PhD material scientists to assist with material selection and integration for similar Electron-Beam-Driven Quantum Emitter projects. |
For custom specifications or material consultation, visit 6ccvd.com or contact our engineering team directly.
View Original Abstract
Nanoscale control over the second-order photon correlation function <em>g</em><sup>(2)</sup>(Ï) is critical to emerging research in nonlinear nanophotonics and integrated quantum information science. Here we report on quasiparticle control of photon bunching with <em>g</em><sup>(2)</sup>(0) > 45 in the cathodoluminescence of nanodiamond nitrogen vacancy (NV<sup>0</sup>) centers excited by a converged electron beam in an aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope. Plasmon-mediated NV<sup>0</sup> cathodoluminescence exhibits a 16-fold increase in luminescence intensity correlated with a threefold reduction in photon bunching compared with that of uncoupled NV<sup>0</sup> centers. This effect is ascribed to the excitation of single temporally uncorrelated NV<sup>0</sup> centers by single surface plasmon polaritons. Spectrally resolved Hanbury Brown-Twiss interferometry is employed to demonstrate that the bunching is mediated by the NV<sup>0</sup> phonon sidebands, while no observable bunching is detected at the zero-phonon line. As a result, the data are consistent with fast phonon-mediated recombination dynamics, a conclusion substantiated by agreement between Bayesian regression and Monte Carlo models of superthermal NV<sup>0</sup> luminescence.
Tech Support
Section titled âTech SupportâOriginal Source
Section titled âOriginal SourceâReferences
Section titled âReferencesâ- 2017 - Advances in Imaging and Electron Physics