arXiv subjects

Mehran Kianinia

Publications and source records attributed to Mehran Kianinia.

66 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Effects of high energy electron irradiation on quantum emitters in hexagonal boron nitride

Hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN) mono and multilayers are promising hosts for room temperature single photon emitters (SPEs). In this work we explore high energy (~ MeV) electron irradiation as a means to generate stable SPEs in hBN. We investigate four types of exfoliated hBN flakes - namely, high purity multilayers, isotopically pure hBN, carbon rich hBN multilayers and monolayered material - and find that electron irradiation increases emitter concentrations dramatically in all samples. Furthermore, the engineered emitters are located throughout hBN flakes (not only at flake edges or grain boundaries), and do not require activation by high temperature annealing of the host material after electron exposure. Our results provide important insights into controlled formation of hBN SPEs and may aid in identification of their crystallographic origin.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Single crystal diamond membranes containing germanium vacancy color centers

Single crystal diamond membranes that host optically active emitters are highly attractive components for integrated quantum nanophotonics. In this work we demonstrate bottom-up synthesis of single crystal diamond membranes containing the germanium vacancy (GeV) color centers. We employ a lift-off technique to generate the membranes and perform chemical vapour deposition in a presence of germanium oxide to realize the insitu doping. Finally, we show that these membranes are suitable for engineering of photonic resonators such as microring cavities with quality factors of 1500. The robust and scalable approach to engineer single crystal diamond membranes containing emerging color centers is a promising pathway for realization of diamond integrated quantum nanophotonic circuits on a chip.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2017

Single Photon Emission from Plasma Treated 2D Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Artificial atomic systems in solids are becoming increasingly important building blocks in quantum information processing and scalable quantum nanophotonic networks. Yet, synthesis of color centers that act as single photon emitters which are suitable for on-chip applications is still beyond reach. Here, we report a number of plasma and thermal annealing methods for the fabrication of emitters in tape-exfoliated hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) crystals. A two-step process comprised of Ar plasma etching and subsequent annealing in Ar is highly robust, and yields a seven-fold increase in the concentration of emitters in hBN. The initial plasma etching step generates emitters that suffer from blinking and bleaching, whereas the two-step process yields emitters that are photostable at room temperature and have an emission energy distribution that is red-shifted relative to that of pristine hBN. An analysis of emitters fabricated by a range of plasma and annealing treatments, combined with a theoretical investigation of point defects in hBN indicates that single photon emitters characterized by a high degree of photostability and emission wavelengths greater than ~700 nm are associated with defect complexes that contain oxygen. This is further confirmed by generating the emitters by annealing hBN in an oxidative atmosphere. Our findings advance present understanding of the structure of quantum emitter in hBN and enhance the nanofabrication toolkit that is needed to realize integrated quantum nanophotonics based on 2D materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Nanoassembly of quantum emitters in hexagonal boron nitride and gold nanospheres

Assembly of quantum nanophotonic systems with plasmonic resonators are important for fundamental studies of single photon sources as well as for on-chip information processing. In this work, we demonstrate controllable nanoassembly of gold nanospheres with ultra-bright quantum emitters in 2D layered hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). We utilize an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip to precisely position gold nanospheres to close proximity of the quantum emitters and observe the resulting emission enhancement and fluorescence lifetime reduction. A fluorescence enhancement of over 300% is achieved experimentally for quantum emitters in hBN, with a radiative quantum efficiency of up to 40% and a saturated count rate in excess of 5 million counts/s. Our results are promising for future employment of quantum emitters in hBN for integrated nanophotonic devices and plasmonic based nanosensors.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2017

Super-resolution imaging of quantum emitters in layered materials

Layered van der Waals materials are emerging as compelling two-dimensional (2D) platforms for studies of nanophotonics, polaritonics, valleytronics and spintronics, and have the potential to transform applications in sensing, imaging and quantum information processing. Amongst these, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is unique in that it hosts ultra-bright, room temperature single photon emitters (SPEs). However, an outstanding challenge is to locate SPEs in hBN with high precision, a task which requires breaking the optical diffraction limit. Here, we report the imaging of SPEs in layered hBN with a spatial resolution of 63 nm using ground state depletion (GSD) nanoscopy. Furthermore, we show that SPEs in hBN possess nonlinear photophysical properties which can be used to realize a new variant of GSD that employs a coincident pair of doughnut-shaped lasers to reduce the laser power that is needed to achieve a given resolution target. Our findings expand the current understanding of the photophysics of quantum emitters in layered hBN and demonstrate the potential for advanced nanophotonic and bio-imaging applications which require localization of individual emitters with super-resolution accuracy.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2017

Resonant Excitation of Quantum Emitters in Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Quantum emitters in layered hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) have recently attracted a great attention as promising single photon sources. In this work, we demonstrate resonant excitation of a single defect center in hBN, one of the most important prerequisites for employment of optical sources in quantum information application. We observe spectral linewidths of hBN emitter narrower than 1 GHz while the emitter experiences spectral diffusion. Temporal photoluminescence measurements reveals an average spectral diffusion time of around 100 ms. On-resonance photon antibunching measurement is also realized. Our results shed light on the potential use of quantum emitters from hBN in nanophotonics and quantum information.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

First principles investigation of quantum emission from hBN defects

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has recently emerged as a fascinating platform for room-temperature quantum photonics due to the discovery of robust visible light single-photon emitters. In order to utilize these emitters, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of their atomic structure and the associated excitation processes that give rise to this single photon emission. Here we perform density-functional theory (DFT) and constrained DFT calculations for a range of hBN point defects in order to identify potential emission candidates. By applying a number of criteria on the electronic structure of the ground state and the atomic structure of the excited states of the considered defects, and then calculating the Huang-Rhys (HR) factor, we find that the CBVN defect, in which a carbon atom substitutes a boron atom and the opposite nitrogen atom is removed, is a potential emission source with a HR factor of 1.66, in good agreement with the experimental HR factor. We calculate the photoluminescence (PL) line shape for this defect and find that it reproduces a number of key features in the the experimental PL lineshape.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Nanodiamonds with photostable, sub-gigahertz linewidths quantum emitters

Single photon emitters with narrow linewidths are highly sought after for applications in quantum information processing and quantum communications. In this letter, we report on a bright, highly polarized near infrared single photon emitter embedded in diamond nanocrystals with a narrow, sub GHz optical linewidths at 10K. The observed zero phonon line at ~ 780 nm is optically stable under low power resonant excitation and blue shifts as the excitation power increases. Our results highlight the prospect for using new near infrared color centers in nanodiamonds for quantum applications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Atomic Engineering of Single Photon Sources in 2D Boron Nitride Zai-Quan

Artificial atomic systems in solids such as single photon emitters are becoming increasingly important building blocks in quantum information processing and scalable quantum nanophotonic networks. Here, we report on a controllable way to engineer emitters in two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) crystals using plasma processing. The method is robust, and yields a 7-fold increase in the density of emitters in hBN, which is promising for their deployment in practical devices. While as-fabricated emitters suffer from blinking and bleaching, a subsequent annealing step yields photo-stable emitters. The presented process is the first step towards controllable placement of quantum emitters in hBN for integrated on-chip quantum nanophotonics based on 2D materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Optical properties of Xe color centers in diamond

Optical properties of color centers in diamond have been the subject of intense research due to their promising applications in quantum photonics. In this work we study the optical properties of Xe related color centers implanted into nitrogen rich (type IIA) and an ultrapure, electronic grade diamond. The Xe defect has two zero phonon lines at ~ 794 and 811 nm, which can be effectively excited using both green and red excitation, however, its emission in the nitrogen rich diamond is brighter. Near resonant excitation is performed at cryogenic temperatures and luminescence is probed under strong magnetic field. Our results are important towards the understanding of the Xe related defect and other near infrared color centers in diamond.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2016

Robust Solid State Quantum System Operating at 800 K

Realization of Quantum information and communications technologies requires robust, stable solid state single photon sources. However, most existing sources cease to function above cryogenic or room temperature due to thermal ionization or strong phonon coupling which impede their emissive and quantum properties. Here we present an efficient single photon source based on a defect in a van der Waals crystal that is optically stable and operates at elevated temperatures of up to 800 K. The quantum nature of the source and the photon purity are maintained upon heating to 800 K and cooling back to room temperature. Our report of a robust high temperature solid state single photon source constitutes a significant step to-wards practical, integrated quantum technologies for real-world environments.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2016

Robust, directed assembly of fluorescent nanodiamonds

Arrays of fluorescent nanoparticles are highly sought after for applications in sensing and nanophotonics. Here we present a simple and robust method of assembling fluorescent nanodiamonds into macroscopic arrays. Remarkably, the yield of this directed assembly process is greater than 90% and the assembled patterns withstand ultra-sonication for more than three hours. The assembly process is based on covalent bonding of carboxyl to amine functional carbon seeds and is applicable to any material, and to non-planar surfaces. Our results pave the way to directed assembly of sensing and nanophotonics devices.

physics.optics↗