Researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester have achieved a significant breakthrough in quantum technology by gaining control over single tin-vacancy color centers in diamond. This development is seen as a crucial step towards scalable quantum devices.
Professor Jason Smith from the Department of Materials at the University of Oxford expressed excitement about this advancement, stating, "This breakthrough gives us unprecedented control over single tin-vacancy colour centres in diamond, a crucial milestone for scalable quantum devices. What excites me most is that we can watch, in real time, how the quantum defects are formed."
The research team used a novel two-step fabrication method to create and monitor individual Group-IV quantum defects in diamond. These tiny imperfections within the diamond crystal lattice can store and transmit information using quantum physics principles. By precisely placing single tin atoms into synthetic diamond crystals and activating them with an ultrafast laser, researchers achieved precise control over these quantum features' location and appearance.
These defects act as spin-photon interfaces, connecting quantum bits of information stored in electron spins with particles of light. Tin-vacancy defects belong to Group-IV color centers known for their high symmetry and stable optical properties, making them ideal for quantum networking applications.
Professor Richard Curry and Dr. Mason Adshead utilized a focused ion beam platform to implant tin atoms into diamonds with nanometer accuracy. The team then employed ultrafast laser pulses for laser annealing to convert implanted tin atoms into tin-vacancy color centers without damaging the diamond.
Real-time spectral feedback during this process allowed scientists to observe when a quantum defect became active and adjust accordingly. This level of control has implications for scalability, integration with existing semiconductor techniques, and performance improvements in optical properties essential for quantum communication and computing.
Co-author Professor Patrick Salter from the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford highlighted the broader impact: "Aside from the exciting prospects the work presents for quantum technology and the science of defect investigation, it also demonstrates a new standard of feedback for laser manufacturing."
The study titled ‘Laser Activation of Single Group-IV Colour Centres in Diamond’ has been published in Nature Communications.