NV– diamond laser
At a Glance
Section titled “At a Glance”| Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 2021-12-08 |
| Journal | Nature Communications |
| Authors | Alexander Savvin, A. E. Dormidonov, Evgeniya Smetanina, V. P. Mitrokhin, E. I. Lipatov |
| Institutions | National Research Tomsk State University, Lomonosov Moscow State University |
| Citations | 70 |
| Analysis | Full AI Review Included |
Executive Summary
Section titled “Executive Summary”- Core Achievement: First successful demonstration of laser generation utilizing negatively charged Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV-) color centers in an optically pumped diamond crystal.
- Output Specifications: The NV- diamond laser produces pulses centered at 720 nm, with a narrow spectrum width of 20 nm and a minimal duration of approximately 1 ns.
- Energy Output: Maximum achieved output pulse energy was 10.4 nJ, operating under optimal pumping conditions.
- Active Medium: High-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) Type IIa diamond was used, specifically leveraging a growth zone (S2) optimized for high NV- concentration (1.4 ppm).
- Pumping Mechanism: Pumping utilized a nanosecond train of 150-ps, 532-nm laser pulses, achieving a high gain coefficient of 1.5 cm-1.
- Gain Limitation: High pump power leads to saturation of probe amplification and subsequent induced absorption due to NV- photo-ionization and the formation of neutral NV0 centers.
- Future Potential: The results pave the way for developing high-power CW and ultrashort lasers based on diamond’s exceptional thermal and mechanical properties.
Technical Specifications
Section titled “Technical Specifications”| Parameter | Value | Unit | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Medium | HPHT Type IIa Diamond | N/A | 4 x 3 x 0.25 mm plate |
| Optimal Growth Zone (S2) | Predominantly NV- centers | N/A | Used for lasing experiments |
| NV- Concentration (S2) | ~2.5 x 1017 | cm-3 | Calculated concentration (1.4 ppm) |
| Nitrogen Concentration (S2) | 3.1 x 1019 | cm-3 | Measured by FTIR (175 ppm) |
| NV- Excited State Lifetime (T21) | 9.3 ± 0.3 | ns | Spontaneous emission decay time |
| Emission Cross-Section (σem) | 4.9 x 10-17 | cm2 | Calculated at 680 nm (S2 Zone) |
| Absorption Cross-Section (σabs) | 5.7 x 10-17 | cm2 | Calculated at 569 nm (S2 Zone) |
| Pump Wavelength | 532 | nm | Picosecond Nd:YAG laser |
| Pump Pulse Duration | 150 | ps | Single pulse in train |
| Pump Pulse Delay | 4.4 | ns | Delay between pulses in the train |
| Maximum Achieved Gain Coefficient | 1.5 | cm-1 | Achieved at optimal pumping (Gain = 1.8) |
| Lasing Wavelength (Center) | 720 | nm | Output spectrum peak |
| Lasing Spectrum Width (FWHM) | 20 | nm | Output spectrum |
| Minimal Lasing Pulse Duration | ~1 | ns | Achieved for pump energies 73-140 µJ |
| Maximum Output Pulse Energy | 10.4 | nJ | Total energy (sum of two couplers) |
| Resonator Mirror Reflectivity | 95 | % | Flat mirrors (700 to 750 nm range) |
Key Methodologies
Section titled “Key Methodologies”-
Diamond Sample Preparation:
- HPHT diamond plate (4 x 3 x 0.25 mm) was subjected to radiation treatment using 3 MeV electrons (dose 1-1018 e-/cm2).
- Subsequent annealing was performed in vacuum at 800 °C for 24 hours to form NV complexes.
- Two lateral sides were polished at the Brewster’s angle (22.5°) to facilitate longitudinal lasing along the sample depth.
-
Spectroscopic Characterization:
- Absorption spectra were measured using a tungsten incandescent lamp and an Ocean Optics spectrometer.
- FTIR spectroscopy (Bruker Vertex 70) was used to determine nitrogen concentration (3.1 x 1019 cm-3 in S2).
- Photoluminescence (PL) spectra were collected under CW excitation (400, 450, and 532 nm) to confirm NV0 (575 nm ZPL) and NV- (638 nm ZPL) dominance in zones S1 and S2, respectively.
-
Pump-Probe Stimulated Emission Setup:
- Pump Source: Picosecond Nd:YAG laser (532 nm, 150-ps pulses) used in single-pulse or multi-pulse train regime.
- Probe Source: 675-nm CW Thorlabs HL6750MG laser diode.
- Detection: High-speed optoelectronic converter (LeCroy OE555, 4.5 GHz rate) and oscilloscope (LeCroy WaveMaster 808Zi-A) to measure transient probe amplification/absorption kinetics.
-
Lasing Resonator Configuration:
- The diamond sample (S2 zone) was placed at the Brewster’s angle inside the resonator.
- The cavity consisted of two identical flat mirrors (95% reflectivity, 700-750 nm).
- A BK7 spherical lens (15 mm focal length) was included to compensate for beam divergence and ensure resonator stability.
- Pumping was achieved via side illumination of the S2 zone using a cylindrical lens and the full 532-nm pulse train.
Commercial Applications
Section titled “Commercial Applications”- Quantum Computing and Memory: NV- centers are leading solid-state quantum systems for spin initialization, control, and readout, crucial for scalable quantum processors.
- Quantum Metrology and Sensing: Diamond-based NV- lasers can enable advanced techniques like laser threshold magnetometry, providing highly sensitive measurements of magnetic fields, temperature, and strain.
- High-Power and Ultrashort Lasers: Diamond’s exceptional material properties (high thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion) make it an ideal host for developing next-generation high-power CW and femtosecond laser systems operating in the red/near-IR spectrum.
- Tunable Solid-State Lasers: The broad phonon sideband (PSB) emission of NV centers allows for the creation of widely tunable lasers in the 650-800 nm range.
- Single-Photon Sources: NV centers are key components in creating robust, room-temperature single-photon emitters for quantum photonic integrated circuits and secure communication.
Tech Support
Section titled “Tech Support”Original Source
Section titled “Original Source”References
Section titled “References”- 2001 - Optical Properties of Diamond [Crossref]