Optomechanical cavity quantum electrodynamics with color centers in diamond

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Giovanna Morigi, since 1/2015
• Subject Area: Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics ; Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2013 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 236935559

Color centers in diamond monocrystals are single defects, able to absorb or emit light quantas in the visible spectrum. These quantum emitters can strongly couple to the light field inside an optical microcavity, and the interaction then takes place on the basis of single photon exchange. Thanks to advances in nano-fabrication, these high-Q cavities can be fabricated directly in diamond using photonic crystals. Mechanically exciting these nano-structures alters the optical properties of the cavity, while the light field inside the cavity can exert radiation forces on the shaped diamond crystal. The goal of this research project is to develop the theoretical description of such a hybrid quantum system. In a regime reached by laser cooling, all three degrees of freedom, namely the mechanical, photonic and electronic one, have to be treated quantum mechanically. Based on this description, the dynamics of the hybrid system is analyzed. This will be done considering two main lines of investigation: (i) The analysis of scattered light. Emitted photons carry information about the system and its dynamics. This information, often not being directly accessible in an experiment, can be read out by exploring the properties of the scattered photons. The description of light scattering will furthermore allow to identify applications like efficient cooling schemes or conversion of wavelengths of the scattered light. (ii) Quantum state transfer between the subsystems. Here we want to clarify if the system provides the possibility of transmitting a quantum state from one degree of freedom to another. This allows to assess whether the considered system can be used as a transducer in a quantum network, which mediates among the disparate quantum degrees of freedom. Finally, this project will also deliver general results and provide profound insight into the dynamics of similar hybrid quantum systems, for example in atom-optical realizations.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Dr. Marc Bienert, until 12/2014