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arXiv · 1105.0092

Study of the optimal conditions for NV- center formation in type 1b diamond, using photoluminescence and positron annihilation spectroscopies

J. Botsoa·T. Sauvage·M. -P. Adam·P. Desgardin·E. Leoni·B. Courtois·F. Treussart·M. -F. Barthe
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Abstract

We studied the parameters to optimize the production of negatively-charged nitrogen-vacancy color centers (NV-) in type~1b single crystal diamond using proton irradiation followed by thermal annealing under vacuum. Several samples were treated under different irradiation and annealing conditions and characterized by slow positron beam Doppler-broadening and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. At high proton fluences another complex vacancy defect appears limiting the formation of NV-. Concentrations as high as 2.3 x 10^18 cm^-3 of NV- have been estimated from PL measurements. Furthermore, we inferred the trapping coefficient of positrons by NV-. This study brings insight into the production of a high concentration of NV- in diamond, which is of utmost importance in ultra-sensitive magnetometry and quantum hybrid systems applications.

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J. Botsoa, T. Sauvage, M. -P. Adam, P. Desgardin, E. Leoni, B. Courtois, F. Treussart, M. -F. Barthe. 2011-04-30. Study of the optimal conditions for NV- center formation in type 1b diamond, using photoluminescence and positron annihilation spectroscopies. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.84.125209

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