Low-loss plasmonic materials offer unique opportunities for quantum information applications. A strongly targeted enhancement of light-matter interaction can be used to speed up spontaneous emission of single photons by solid-state defects by several orders of magnitude, even at room temperature. We have developed several methods for the on-chip integration of such plasmon-enhanced single-photon sources. We also present some applications of plasmonic materials for the active control of solid-state spins. In the future, integrated plasmon-enhanced devices can be used as a platform for cryogen-free high-speed integrated quantum photonics.
Plasmonic nanostructures made of novel low-loss plasmonic materials are emerging as prime components for single-photon sources and nanoscale sensors with unique properties. Plasmon-enhanced single-photon emitters possess the advantages of GHz photon production rates, nanoscale footprint, room-temperature operation and strong tolerance to the cavity resonance frequency shifts. We present several realizations of quantum emitters coupled to plasmonic nanoantennas made of crystalline silver, using both random and deterministic assembly methods, focusing on single-photon production and the optical readout of single electronic spin states.
Plasmonic nanostructures offer a wide variety of optical modes that can be harnessed for controlling different radiation properties of single-photon emitters. These effects are broadband and are of special interest for quantum emitters at room temperature. We study these effects using nitrogen-vacancies in diamond nanocrystals. Extremely confined optical modes in hybrid cavity/nanoantenna structures lead to unprecedented levels of single-photon brightness at room temperature in the range of tens of million photons per second. Metamaterials offer highly broadband non-resonant brightness enhancement over 200 nm for all dipole orientations, which can be applied to emitters with broad spectrum or widely inhomogeneous line distributions. Dielectric bullseye corrugations on planar plasmonic films allow to reach highly directional Purcell enhanced emission within 5 degrees half-angle.
Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond possess electronic spins that one can manipulate coherently at room temperature using RF signals. The optical spin readout plays a key role in their performance for nanoscale magnetometry and quantum information processing. We demonstrate that plasmonic nanostructures can simultaneously guide optical, microwave and low-frequency signals ensuring spin manipulation and readout in an ultracompact setting. They can also enhance detected photon rates through efficient photon collection and shortening of the fluorescence lifetime. We show that in the case of dense NV ensembles the design of the optical readout interface must emphasize photon collection efficiency over Purcell enhancement. However, in the case of single NV centers, large Purcell enhancement may significantly improve the spin readout sensitivity. Enhancement for high-fidelity readout can be provided by nanoparticle-on-metal antennas featuring ultraconfined plasmonic modes.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.